Mormolyce phyllodes | |
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Mormolyce phyllodes | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Carabidae |
Subfamily: | Lebiinae |
Tribe: | Lebiini |
Genus: | Mormolyce |
Species: | M. phyllodes |
Binomial name | |
Mormolyce phyllodes Hagenbach, 1825 | |
Mormolyce phyllodes, commonly known as the violin beetle, is a species of ground beetles in the subfamily Lebiinae. [1] [2]
The species may be divided into the following subspecies: [3] [4]
Mormolyce phyllodes can reach a length of 60–100 millimetres (2.4–3.9 in). [5] These beetles possess a flat leaf-shaped, shiny black or brown body with distinctive violin-shaped translucent elytra (hence the common name). This characteristic mimicry protects them against predators, while their flat shaped body allow them to dwell in soil cracks or under the bark and leaves of trees. Head and pronotum are very elongated, with long antennae and the legs are long and slender. [5] [6]
Both adults and larvae are predators, feeding on insect larvae. For defense purposes, they secrete poisonous butyric acid. [5] [6] The larvae live between layers of bracket fungi, genus Polyporus . Their development lasts 8–9 months, while pupation lasts 8–10 weeks. Adults fly from August to November. [5]
This species can be found in rainforests of Southeast Asia (Brunei, Indonesia, Java, Malaysia and Sumatra). [3]
The Colorado potato beetle, also known as the Colorado beetle, the ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle, or the potato bug, is a major pest of potato crops. It is about 10 mm long, with a bright yellow/orange body and five bold brown stripes along the length of each of its elytra. Native to the Rocky Mountains, it spread rapidly in potato crops across America and then Europe from 1859 onwards.
Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles, the Carabidae, with more than 40,000 species worldwide, around 2,000 of which are found in North America and 2,700 in Europe. As of 2015, it is one of the 10 most species-rich animal families. They belong to the Adephaga. Members of the family are primarily carnivorous, but some members are herbivorous or omnivorous.
The insects of the beetle family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles, and include over 37,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, making up one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families. Numerous subfamilies are recognized, but the precise taxonomy and systematics are likely to change with ongoing research.
The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns, are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body. In various members of the family, however, the antennae are quite short and such species can be difficult to distinguish from related beetle families such as the Chrysomelidae. The scientific name of this beetle family goes back to a figure from Greek mythology: after an argument with nymphs, the shepherd Cerambus was transformed into a large beetle with horns.
Hydrophilidae, also known colloquially as water scavenger beetles, is a family of beetles. Aquatic hydrophilids are notable for their long maxillary palps, which are longer than their antennae. Several of the former subfamilies of Hydrophilidae have recently been removed and elevated to family rank; Epimetopidae, Georissidae, Helophoridae, Hydrochidae, and Spercheidae. While the majority of hydrophilids are aquatic, around a third of described species are terrestrial, mostly belonging to the subfamily Sphaeridiinae.
Histeridae is a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. This very diverse group of beetles contains 3,900 species found worldwide. They can be easily identified by their shortened elytra that leaves two of the seven tergites exposed, and their geniculate (elbowed) antennae with clubbed ends. These predatory feeders are most active at night and will fake death if they feel threatened. This family of beetles will occupy almost any kind of niche throughout the world. Hister beetles have proved useful during forensic investigations to help in time of death estimation. Also, certain species are used in the control of livestock pests that infest dung and to control houseflies. Because they are predacious and will even eat other hister beetles, they must be isolated when collected.
Trogidae, sometimes called hide beetles, is a family of beetles with a distinctive warty or bumpy appearance. Found worldwide, the family includes about 300 species contained in four or five genera.
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,800 species described.
Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The family Cleridae has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences.
Mormolyce is a genus of ground beetles in the subfamily Lebiinae. They all possess distinctive violin-shaped elytra and live between layers of bracket fungi.
Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles. They are commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in the United Kingdom; "lady" refers to mother Mary. Entomologists use the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles to avoid confusion with true bugs. The more than 6,000 described species have a global distribution and are found in a variety of habitats. They are oval beetles with a domed back and flat underside. Many of the species have conspicuous aposematic (warning) colours and patterns, such as red with black spots, that warn potential predators that they taste bad.
Cephalota elegans is a species in the tiger beetle family Cicindelidae. It is found in eastern Europe and western Asia, in the European-Siberian steppe.
Galerita bicolor, also known as the False bombardier beetle, is a species of beetle occurring in the eastern United States. Its mimicry of the colors and shape of a bombardier beetle help it evade predators.
Epomis is a subgenus of ground beetle genus Chlaenius. The larvae of this subgenus are notable for being obligate role-reversal predators. Amphibians such as frogs are normally predators of beetles; however, Epomis larvae feed exclusively on amphibians.
Anthia sexmaculata, common name Egyptian predator beetle, is a species of beetles of the family Carabidae.
Chlaenius dejeanii is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic and the Middle East. It is known from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Chlaenius nigricans is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic. It is known from Borneo, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Myanmar, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.
Chlaenius croesus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, found in Africa. It is a member of the subgenus Epomis, the larvae of which are notable for being obligate role-reversal predators. Amphibians such as frogs are normally predators of beetles; however, Epomis larvae feed exclusively on amphibians.
Platynus assimilis is a beetle in the taxon (sub-family) Platyninae in the family of ground beetles.
Rhantus suturalis, commonly known as the supertramp beetle or cosmopolitan diving beetle, is a species of diving beetle (Dytiscidae) with a cosmopolitan distribution.