Parisopalpus nigronotatus

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Parisopalpus nigronotatus
Parisopalpus nigronotatus in Titirangi (cropped).jpg
Introduced Parisopalpus nigronotatus seen in West Auckland, New Zealand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Oedemeridae
Genus: Parisopalpus
Species:
P. nigronotatus
Binomial name
Parisopalpus nigronotatus
Boheman, 1858
Synonyms
  • Parisopalpus nigronotatusBoheman, 1858)
  • Nacerdes nigronotataBoheman, 1858
  • Ananca ni!fronotataMasters. 1859
  • Copidita nigronotataChampion, 1895
  • Sessinia sticticaBroun, 1914
  • Sessinia nigronotataSchenkling, 1915

Parisopalpus nigronotatus, known by its common name, the spotted lax beetle, is a species of false blister beetles. It was first identified by Carl Henrik Boheman in 1858, under the name Nacerdes nigronotata. [1] Native to eastern Australia, the species was introduced to New Zealand in 1931.

Contents

Description

Parisopalpus nigronotatus is generally coloured brick-red, with dark spots found on the beetle's body and legs. The species is densely covered with pale hair. The beetle is typically between 8.7 and 12.2 mm in length. [2]

Parisopalpus nigronotatus can be told apart from other species of Parisopalpus by the presence of at least two dark spots on the beetle's body. [2]

Distribution

Parisopalpus nigronotatus is found in eastern Australia, south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. [3] It was introduced to New Zealand in 1931, [4] and is found in Nelson and the North Island. [2]

The species has been intercepted by biosecurity in Chile. [5]

Behaviour

The beetles lay their eggs in mangroves. [4] Grubs of the species are typically found in rotting wood, and as adults the beetles feed on nectar and pollen, and are attracted to light. [6]

The beetles secrete a toxic substance as a defense, which causes skin blisters in humans if touched. [4] [6]

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References

  1. Boheman, C.H. (1858). Kongliga Svenska Fregatten Eugenies resa omkring Jorden aren 1851-53. Vol. II. Stockholm: Norstedt.
  2. 1 2 3 Hudson, Logan P (1975). "A systematic revision of the New Zealand Oedemeridae (Coleoptera, Insecta)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 5 (3): 227–274. doi:10.1080/03036758.1975.10421850. ISSN   0303-6758.
  3. "Parisopalpus nigronotatus ( Boheman , 1858)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Baird, Alex (17 January 2017). "The 'blister beetle' parents should watch out for". Newshub. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. Švihila, V; Fischer, FR (2012). "Parisopalpus defoei sp. nov. from Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, the first known species of the genus from the Neotropical Region (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae)". Zootaxa. 3394 (1): 31–34. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3394.1.3. ISSN   1175-5334.
  6. 1 2 "Spotted lax beetle". Landcare Research. Retrieved 10 January 2023.