Lycidae-Red-winged beetles

Community and Forum → Insects images → Lycidae-Red-winged beetles

PG18, 02.07.2008 9:46

Oblong, flattened beetles of small size (usually 5-25 mm). The head is small, often bent under the pronotum and has a small proboscis. Antennae are filiform, sawtooth or comb-like. The pronotum of most species is bell-shaped, flattened and divided by ribs into cells. The elytra are brightly colored, with more or less pronounced longitudinal keels, the spaces between which are usually divided into cells. The wings are developed. The biology of red-winged beetles remains largely a mystery. No complete developmental cycle has been described for any species. Eggs laid by females in captivity die. Redwing larvae are known to be associated with rotting wood, developing over several years. But only recently it was found out that they are not predators, as previously assumed, but feed on the enzyme juice of decaying trees and their modified mandibles allow them to effectively suck in fluids. Beetles are found near dead tree trunks and stumps; they often visit flowers for extra food. They lead a diurnal lifestyle. They are characterized by a low speed of movement, both on the substrate and in the air. It is easy to catch up with a flying red wing at a walk and catch it with your hand. When you touch a sitting beetle, it does not run away and does not fly away immediately, but pretends to be dead, slightly opening the elytra. Predators, both vertebrates and invertebrates, avoid red wings, which is explained by the presence of toxic substances in their hemolymph. Red wings were previously classified as a subfamily in the softwing family (Cantharidae). There are about 1,500 known species, the vast majority of which are tropical. There are about 40 species in Russia.
Historical information: Sergey Kazantsev. 2005. Краснокрылы (Lycidae). www.zin.ru/Animalia/Coleoptera/rus/incolc.htm

RED-WINGED SAWTOOTH
Xylobanellus erythropterus Baudi, 1871

7-12 mm. The body, including the pronotum, and the wings are black. Elytra are red, with 4 longitudinal keels, the spaces between which are divided into rectangular cells. Antennae sawtooth, slightly longer than half the body. The species is known from the forest zone, from Eastern Europe to the Far East. In the Middle Urals, beetles are found in June and July in taiga coniferous forests, more often on fallen and felled trees. The larva lives in rotting wood of various species, pupating under the bark.

This post was edited by PG18-03.07.2008 15: 07

Pictures:
picture: Xylobanellus_erythropterus_0864_1.jpg
Xylobanellus_erythropterus_0864_1.jpg — (131.98к)

Xylobanellus_erythropterus_0886_1.jpg — (139.82к)