Megalodacne

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Megalodacne
Megalodacne heros - cropped.jpg
Megalodacne heros beetles from the United States feeding on bracket fungi
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Erotylidae
Subfamily: Megalodacninae
Genus: Megalodacne
Crotch, 1873
Type species
Ips fasciata
(Fabricius, 1777)

Megalodacne is a genus of fungivorous beetles in the family Erotylidae. [1]

Contents

Description

Adult beetles of the genus Megalodacne range in size from 9 to 22 millimetres (0.35 to 0.87 in), making them among the larger members of the family. [2] [3]

Distinguishing characteristics of the genus along with other members of the subfamily Megalodacninae include large eyes and a lack of depressions in the club joint of the antennae. The first three tarsomeres are also cylindrical and of similar shape and size, while the fourth is significantly shorter. [4]

Species of the genus Megalodacne closely resemble members of the genera Episcapha and Episcaphula (some members of which were formerly classified under Megalodacne). [5] [6] They also often look superficially similar to several other beetles since the patterns of the markings of yellow, orange, or red on the elytra (called fascia) of Megalodacne are shared by many other beetle species. [2]

An example of which is the sap beetle (Nitidulidae) genus Glischrochilus . [7] Their native ranges sometimes overlap as well, making it easy to confuse the two (as with Megalodacne fasciata , Megalodacne heros , and the nitulidid Glischrochilus fasciatus from eastern North America). The best way to tell them apart is by size, as sap beetles are generally small, ranging from 2 to 12 mm (0.08 to 0.47 in) in length. Glischrochilus reaches a maximum length of only 12 mm (0.47 in). [8] Megalodacne on the other hand are large beetles ranging from 9 to 22 mm (0.35 to 0.87 in). [7] [9] The elytra of the sap beetles which most resemble Megalodacne also do not cover the whole abdomen and leave the last abdominal segment(s) exposed. [9] The elytra of Megalodacne, on the other hand, completely cover the abdomen. [10]

Ecology

Megalodacne species feed on harder bracket fungi than smaller members of the family. [2] The fungi eaten include Ganoderma [2] and Fomes species. [11]

Some tropical nocturnal species of Megalodacne are attracted to light. [4]

Life cycle

Megalodacne deposit eggs on the fungi on which they feed. Upon hatching, the larvae, like adults, also feed on the fruiting bodies of bracket fungi by burrowing into it. [12] [13] [14]

There are two kinds of larvae of Megalodacne depending on the species. In some species, the larvae are elongated and feed on fungi by drilling holes inside of it. In others, the larvae feed alongside adults by gnawing out shallow depressions on the fruiting bodies of fungi. The latter larvae are sluggish, heavily sclerotized, and somewhat flattened. [4] The larval stage takes about 2 to 3 months from egg to pupation. It is not uncommon to see adults feeding along with larvae. [15] [16]

Taxonomy and systematics

Megalodacne was first described by George Robert Crotch in 1873. [17] The type species is Megalodacne fasciata . [5] The genus Megalodacne is classified in the subfamily Megalodacninae, alongside the genera Episcapha and Episcaphula . [18]

List of species

Species of Megalodacne include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beetle</span> Order of insects

Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 described species, is the largest of all orders, constituting almost 40% of described insects and 25% of all known animal species; new species are discovered frequently, with estimates suggesting that there are between 0.9 and 2.1 million total species. Found in almost every habitat except the sea and the polar regions, they interact with their ecosystems in several ways: beetles often feed on plants and fungi, break down animal and plant debris, and eat other invertebrates. Some species are serious agricultural pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle, while others such as Coccinellidae eat aphids, scale insects, thrips, and other plant-sucking insects that damage crops. Some others also have unique characteristics, such as the common eastern firefly, which uses a light-emitting organ for mating and communication purposes

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cucujoidea</span> Superfamily of beetles

Cucujoidea is a superfamily of beetles. This group formerly included all of the families now included in the superfamily Coccinelloidea. They include some fungus beetles and a diversity of lineages of "bark beetles" unrelated to the "true" bark beetles (Scolytinae), which are weevils.

<i>Tritoma</i> Genus of beetles

Tritoma is a genus of beetles in the family Erotylidae, the pleasing fungus beetles. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in the Old World. There are over 100 species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erotylidae</span> Family of beetles

Erotylidae, or the pleasing fungus beetles, is a family of beetles belonging to Cucujoidea containing over 100 genera. In the present circumscription, it contains 6 tribes and 10 subfamilies. In other words, the narrowly circumscribed Erotylidae correspond to the subfamily Erotylinae in the definition sensu lato. There are doubts on the monophyly of lower ranked taxa within Erotylidae, with further phylogenetic studies requiring better sampling and studies of unexplored character sets, for example the metendosternite and penile flagellum, which are generally lacking detailed morphological studies within the Coleoptera literature. The Eroytlina taxonomy is based on traits such as their different colors and not off morphological differences like mouthparts, thorax, and abdominal terminalia (Pecci-Maddalena).

<i>Glischrochilus</i> Genus of beetles

Glischrochilus[note 1] is a genus of sap-feeding and predatory beetles under the family Nitidulidae, subfamily Cryptarchinae. Most members of this genus are commonly known as picnic beetles or beer bugs.

<i>Anisodactylus binotatus</i> Species of beetle

Anisodactylus binotatus is a species of ground beetle native to Europe. It was discovered as being introduced to Canterbury, New Zealand in 1938. Anisodactylus binotatus is a species of Carabidae, also known as the ground beetle family. Although this species of beetle has no official recorded common names, literature from England refers to it as the common shortspur beetle.

Ischyrus dunedinensis, the three-spotted pleasing fungus beetle, is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is found in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ptilodactylidae</span> Family of beetles

Ptilodactylidae is a family of beetles belonging to the Elateriformia. There around 500 extant species in 35 genera. They are generally associated with riparian and aquatic habitats. The larvae generally live associated with rotting wood or vegetation, or within gravel and detritus on the edge of water bodies. The larvae of some species feed on submerged rotting wood or on plant roots, while the adults of some species are known to feed on fungus with modified brush-like maxillae.

<i>Ischyrus</i> Genus of beetles

Ischyrus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are at least three described species in Ischyrus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tritomini</span> Tribe of beetles

Tritomini is a tribe of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about 7 genera and at least 30 described species in Tritomini.

<i>Toramus pulchellus</i> Species of beetle

Toramus pulchellus is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. Yellow-brown to dark colored, it is only 1.3mm to 1.6mm long. It is found in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xenoscelinae</span> Subfamily of beetles

Xenoscelinae is a subfamily of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about 8 genera and 12 described species in Xenoscelinae.

<i>Megalodacne fasciata</i> Species of beetle

Megalodacne fasciata is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is found in North America.

Pseudischyrus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are at least four described species in Pseudischyrus.

Hirsutotriplax is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There is one described species in Hirsutotriplax, H. mcclevei.

<i>Cryptophilus</i> Genus of beetles

Cryptophilus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about nine described species in Cryptophilus.

<i>Cypherotylus californicus</i> Species of beetle

Cypherotylus californicus, known commonly as the blue fungus beetle or blue pleasing fungus beetle, is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is recorded from Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Kansas in the United States, and the Mexican state of Sonora. The elytra are blue with black dots, with the blue turning gray as they age. The adult beetles typically are about 1.4–1.8 cm (0.6–0.7 in) long.

<i>Dacne</i> Genus of beetles

Dacne is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about 19 described species in Dacne.

<i>Megalodacne grandipennis</i> Species of beetle

Megalodacne grandipennis is a species of pleasing fungus beetle, in the family Erotylidae. It is endemic to Tanzania and Namibia. As is typical of species in the genus Megalodacne, M. grandipennis feeds on bracket fungi.

Megalodacne varia is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is endemic to Malaysia. M. varia was discovered by Henry Stephen Gorham in 1889. Like all species of Megalodacne, M. varia feeds on bracket fungi.

References

  1. ↑ Paul E. Skelley (2009). "Pleasing fungus beetles of the West Indies (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Erotylinae)" (PDF). Insecta Mundi . 0082: 1–94.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Paul E. Skelley (March 2008). "Pleasing Fungus Beetles, Pseudischyrus, Tritoma, Megalodacne, Ischyrus spp. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Erotylidae)". Featured Creatures. University of Florida . Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  3. ↑ Stephen Cresswell. "Megalodacne fasciata and Megalodacne heros, Pleasing Fungus Beetles". Insects of West Virginia. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2011.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Piotr Węgrzynowicz (2002). "Morphology, phylogeny and classification of the family Erotylidae based on adult characters (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)" (PDF). Genus. 13 (4). University of Wroclaw: 435–504. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Michio Chûjô & Michitaka Chûjô (1988). "A Catalog of the Erotylidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from the Old World (Excluding the Ethiopian Region)" (PDF). ESAKIA. 26. Kyushu University Publications in Entomology: 129–185. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Michio Chûjô; Michitaka Chûjô & Lee Chang Eon (1993). "Erotylidae from Korea (Insecta, Coleoptera)" (PDF). ESAKIA. 33. Kyushu University Publications in Entomology: 99–108. doi:10.5109/2567. S2CID   82325430. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 25, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Valerie J. Cervenka; Thomas C. Skalbeck; John F. Kyhl; Darren C. Blackford; Jennifer J. Juzwik & Steven J. Seybold (2001). How to identify common nitidulid beetles associated with oak wilt mats in Minnesota (PDF). North Central Research Station, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  8. ↑ Glischrochilus obtusus
  9. 1 2 Peter Hollinger (April 27, 2006). "Little Black Beetle with Orange - Glischrochilus fasciatus". bugguide.net/. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  10. ↑ Arthur V. Evans & James N. Hogue (2006). Field Guide to Beetles of California. California Natural History Guide Series No. 88. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press. ISBN   978-0-520-24657-7 . Retrieved January 19, 2011.
  11. ↑ Michael A. Goodrich (1997). "New host records for Haematochiton elateroides Gorham (Coleoptera: Erotylidae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin . 51 (3): 276. JSTOR   4009421.
  12. ↑ Mike Quinn. "Red-banded Fungus Beetle". Texas Entomology . Retrieved January 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  13. ↑ Gary Emberger (2008). "Perenniporia robiniophila". Messiah College . Retrieved January 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  14. ↑ Simon Hinkley & Ken Walker (2008). "Pleasing fungus beetle Dacne japonica Crotch, 1873 (Coleoptera: Erotylidae: Dacninae)". Pests and Disease Image Library. Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2011.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  15. ↑ Skelley, Paul E. (1988). "Pleasing Fungus Beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae)" (PDF). Entomology Circular (313). Florida Department of Agricultural & Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  16. ↑ Paul E. Skelley (Sep 5, 2001). "Pleasing Fungus Beetles of North America Family Erotylidae". www.fsca-dpi.org/. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  17. ↑ Troy Bartlett, Stephen Cresswell & Patrick Coin (11 March 2008). "Genus Megalodacne". Bug Guide. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  18. ↑ "Erotylidae". Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University . Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  19. ↑ Michio Chûjô (1968). "Erotylid Beetles from South-China, Hainan, Taiwan and the Ryukyus" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monograph . 10 (3–4). Entomology Department, Bishop Museum: 539–550. ISSN   0078-7515 . Retrieved May 6, 2011.
  20. ↑ Michio Chûjô (1968). "Erotylid beetles from Thailand, Laos and Viet-Nam" (PDF). Pacific Insects Monograph . 10 (3–4): 551–573. ISSN   0078-7515.
  21. 1 2 Eric R. Eaton & Kenn Kaufman (2007). Kaufman field guide to insects of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 166. ISBN   978-0-618-15310-7.
  22. 1 2 Roy Danielsson (February 20, 2009). "Coleoptera: Erotylidae present in the Entomological Museum of Lund University". Entomological Museum of Lund University, Sweden. Retrieved 16 January 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
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