Oedemera nobilis

Last updated

Oedemera nobilis
Oedemera nobilis02.jpg
Male
Thick-legged flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis) female.JPG
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Oedemeridae
Genus: Oedemera
Species:
O. nobilis
Binomial name
Oedemera nobilis
Oedemera nobilis distribucio.PNG
Oedemera nobilis female

Oedemera nobilis, also known as the false oil beetle, thick-legged flower beetle [1] or swollen-thighed beetle, [2] is a beetle in the family Oedemeridae, a common species in Western Europe, including south and central England. [3] [4]

Contents

Morphology

The male of Oedemera nobilis, as in most Oedemera species, possesses the hind femora very swollen, whereas in female the femora are thin; the elytra are strongly narrowed towards the apexes, not hiding the membranous hind wings. It is bright green, frequently with a golden or coppery shine; some individuals are blue or violaceous. It can only be confused with Oedemera flavipes (which does not live in the British Isles), from which it differs by its colour, as well as by the long white pubescence on the head, pronotum and hind tibiae of males.

Biology and ecology

Oedemera nobilis is abundant in spring on several flower species; the males are very conspicuous by their swollen femora and bright green colour. It feeds on pollen and nectar of Asteraceae, Cyperaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cruciferae, Dipsacaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Poaceae, Papaveraceae, Plantaginaceae, Rosaceae, Rubiaceae and Apiaceae. The larvae develop on dry stems of Spartium and Cirsium .

Distribution

Western and southern Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to Greece; it is absolutely common in Mediterranean countries and penetrates in Central Europe to middle of Germany and British Isles; it has reached Denmark, where it is rare and sporadic. It is also recorded from the Maghreb. It is absent from alpine countries and Eastern Europe.

In England and Wales, it is presently in a markedly expansive and consolidational phase, which commenced during 1995. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noble chafer</span> Species of beetle

The noble chafer is a species of beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Cetoniinae.

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

The family Oedemeridae is a cosmopolitan group of beetles commonly known as false blister beetles, though some recent authors have coined the name pollen-feeding beetles. There are some 100 genera and 1,500 species in the family, mostly associated with rotting wood as larvae, though adults are quite common on flowers. The family was erected by Pierre André Latreille in 1810.

<i>Oedemera</i> Genus of beetles

Oedemera is a genus of beetles of the family Oedemeridae, subfamily Oedemerinae.

<i>Malachius bipustulatus</i> Species of beetle

Malachius bipustulatus, the malachite beetle, is a species of soft-winged flower beetles belonging to the family Melyridae, subfamily Malachiinae.

<i>Mycterus curculioides</i> Species of beetle

Mycterus curculioides is a species of beetles belonging to the family Mycteridae.

<i>Chrysanthia viridissima</i> Species of beetle

Chrysanthia viridissima is a species of beetles belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Nacerdinae.

<i>Oedemera atrata</i> Species of beetle

Oedemera atrata is a species of beetle belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Oedemerinae.

<i>Oedemera flavipes</i> Species of beetle

Oedemera flavipes is a very common species of beetle of the family Oedemeridae, subfamily Oedemerinae.

<i>Oedemera lurida</i> Species of beetle

Oedemera lurida is a species of beetle belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Oedemerinae.

<i>Scelophysa trimeni</i> Species of scarab beetle endemic to South Africa

Scelophysa trimeni, commonly known as the blue monkey beetle, is a species of scarab beetles in the tribe Hopliini, subfamily Melolonthinae.

<i>Oedemera podagrariae</i> Species of beetle

Oedemera podagrariae, common name false blister beetle, is a quite common species of beetles belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Oedemerinae.

<i>Chrysanthia</i> Genus of beetles

Chrysanthia is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Nacerdinae.

<i>Bruchidius siliquastri</i> Species of beetle

Bruchidius siliquastri is a species of bean weevil. It was first found in pods of Cercis siliquastrum in China, and has thence been found in several continents. Its length ranges from 2.8 to 3.7 millimetres. Its body is short and ovate, with a black integument. The apex of its femora and the ventral part of its hind tarsi are reddish. Its vestiture is made of thin and short setae; dorsally setae are a whitish colour, denser on the scutellum. Its pygidium is also covered with setae. Its name is derived from its host plant.

<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.

<i>Grammoptera ruficornis</i> Species of beetle

Grammoptera ruficornis is a species of beetle in family Cerambycidae.

<i>Luperus flavipes</i> Species of beetle

Luperus flavipes is a species of skeletonizing leaf beetle belonging to the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Galerucinae.

<i>Oedemera crassipes</i> Species of beetle

Oedemera crassipes is a species of beetle belonging to the family Oedemeridae subfamily Oedemerinae.

Scarabaeus erichsoni, is a species of dung beetle found in India, and Sri Lanka. Sometimes, the species is classified as Kheper erichsoni.

<i>Onthophagus cervus</i> Species of beetle

Onthophagus cervus, is a species of dung beetle found in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Thailand.

Onthophagus heterorrhinus, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

References

  1. "False Oil Beetle - Oedemera nobilis". Brickfields Country Park. 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. "Swollen-thighed Beetle - Oedemera nobilis". NatureSpot. 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. Vázquez, X. A. 1993. Coleoptera: Oedemeridae, Pyrochroidae, Pythidae, Mycteridae.Fauna Ibérica, vol. 5. Ramos, M. A. et al. (Eds.). Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Madrid, 181 pp. ISBN   84-00-06109-8
  4. 1 2 Vázquez, X. A. 2002. Fauna of European Oedemeridae. Argania editio, Barcelona, 178 pp. ISBN   84-931847-4-8