Megalodacne | |
---|---|
Megalodacne heros beetles from the United States feeding on bracket fungi | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
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]
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 fasciatus , 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]
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]
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]
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]
Species of Megalodacne include:
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera, in the superorder Endopterygota. 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.
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.
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).
Glischrochilus 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.
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.
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.
Ischyrus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are at least three described species in Ischyrus.
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.
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.
Xenoscelinae is a subfamily of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about 8 genera and 12 described species in Xenoscelinae.
Megalodacne fasciata is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is found in North America.
Pharaxonotha is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are at least three described species in Pharaxonotha.
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.
Xyloterinus is a genus of typical bark beetles in the family Curculionidae. This is a monotypic genus and the one described species is Xyloterinus politus. It is native to North America where it infests both hardwood and softwood trees, as well as stacks of logs.
Cryptophilus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about nine described species in Cryptophilus.
Cypherotylus californicus, sometimes known 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, and the Mexican state of Sonora.
Cypherotylus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are over 30 described species in Cypherotylus. It frequently appears in the literature under the name "Gibbifer", but this name is permanently unavailable under ICZN Article 11.4, as are all of Voet's names.
Tritoma biguttata is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is found in North America.
Dacne is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about 19 described species in Dacne.
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