Shining Underside Is a Characteristic Feature of the Otherwise Brownish Or
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5. Evolution and Classification 115 shining underside is a characteristic feature of Hesperus abnormis (fig. 5-34 C), Priochirus, the otherwise brownish or black water scaven- Creophilus, Hesperus, Philonthus, Oxytelus, gers like Hydrophilus picicornis Osorius, Leucitus, Scelotrichus, Stichostigma, · Histeridae Pachypelmopus, Eleusis, etc. Scarabaeiformia: · Pselaphidae · Lucanidae Stag beetles include larger, · Silphidae Carrion beetles are not well re- handsome beetles with huge, extended stag- presented in PNG like mandibles which in males are often half · Staphylinidae The rove beetles are a as long as the body. They have 5-segmented numerous group of relatively large, up to 25 tarsi, and often clubbed antennae. The body mm long, mostly black beetles with truncate coloration is mostly black, brown or bronze. elytra that nearly always leave two-thirds to Common genera in PNG are Cyclommatus three-fourths of the abdomen exposed (fig. 5- (fig. 5-34 D, plate 3 F), Serrognathus, Aegus, 34 C). The animals are very active, sometimes Neolamprima, Prosopocoelus (plate 3 G) running over the ground like ants. The · Passalidae Passalid beetles are close abdomen is very flexible and might be relatives of the Lucanidae and are often of displayed upon disturbance. Rove beetles can black or red-brown colour with reddish hairs. often be encountered in rotting fruits and They can be found under the bark of old decaying vegetable matter and fungi. The rotting logs, where their larvae (fig. 5-35 A) campodeiform larvae are often associated feed. The antennae are short with a flattened with the adults. Most species are polyphagous club. Common genera in PNG are Pelopides predators, feeding on mites and other small (fig. 5-34 E), Analaches, Gonatas, Aulaco- creatures. This family is plentiful in PNG, eg. cyclus, and many more. A B C D E F G H I J Fig. 5-34: Coleoptera (Beetles): (A†) Bombardier beetle Pheropsophus verticalis (Carabidae, Brachininae), (B) Therates labiatus (Carabidae, Cicindelinae), (C†) Hesperus abnormis (Staphy- linidae), (D) Cyclommatus sumptuosus, X (Lucanidae), (E) Pelopides schraderi (Passalidae), (F) Lomaptera lutea (Scarabaeidae, Cetoniinae), (G) Eupatorus beccarii X (Scarabaeidae, Dynast- inae), (H) Alaus sp. (Elateridae), (I) Cyphogastra sp. (Buprestidae), (J) Cladophorus sp. (Lyc- idae) (reproduced from Gressitt, J. L. & Hornabrook, R.W., 1985; CSIRO, 1991†) 116 5. Evolution and Classification · Geotrupidae Dung beetles have the ability during traditional singsings. The huge sized to bury large quantities of dung in oviposition Dynastinae include the very common Rhino- burrows. Together with the Scarabaeidae, ceros beetles Xylotrupes gideon, Scapanes these beetles play an important role in decom- australis (fig. 2-44 C, D), Eupatorus beccarii positional habitats and are further outlined in (fig. 5-34 G, Plate 3 H), the introduced chapter 4.6 Oryctes and the Taro beetles Papuana spp. · Scarabaeidae* Amongst the scarabs or The Melolonthinae (chafers) are the largest cockchafers some of the world’s largest subfamily and they are usually of brown to beetles can be found. The Goliath Beetle black colour. Most species are phytophagous, Goliathus goliathus occurs in Africa and is some are pests like the cane beetle. The not only the world’s largest beetle, but also Ruteline comprise the defoliating beetles that the heaviest insect. In ancient Egypt the are called Christmas beetles in Australia and scarabs were a symbol for good luck. The May beetles or June beetles in the northern temperate areas. Scarabaeidae are the second largest beetle family. Characteristic of these small to large Elateriformia: mainly nocturnal beetles is the robust, stout · Elateridae* The click beetles or snap body with well developed mandibles that are beetles received the name from a peculiar but invisible from above. Most of the adults are of quite effective defence and right mechanism: black or dark brown coloration, but many a muscular articulation between prothorax and Cetoniinae are brilliantly coloured. The mesothorax enables the beetle to snap its body males of many Dynastinae species possess with an audible click, launching the beetle more or less long horns, as shown in fig. 2-44 vertically. The small to medium-sized beetles C, D and fig. 5-34 G. The terminal segments are somewhat flattened, elongated and heavily of the antennae mostly form a club of 3 to 7 sclerotized. Their legs are small and weak, the movable plates or lamellae. The forelegs of antennae usually serrate or flabellate. The adults are often fossorial. The grub-like larvae colours are variable but mainly mottled brown are scarabaeiform, white and C-shaped with a or black and grey due to tiny hairs all over the prominent dark head and three pairs of legs body. Some Elateridae have the ability to (figs. 2-38, 2-42 F, 5-33 B). The Scarabaeidae produce glowing bioluminescent light for can be divided into phytophages and courtship signalling like ‘fire flies’. The coprophages. The ecological importance of campodeiform larvae called ‘wire worms’ adult and larval dung beetles is outlined in (fig. 5-35 B) are often long, slender and hard- chapter 4.6. Dung beetles were introduced bodied, feeding on the roots of various plants into many countries, eg. PNG for the rapid and thus may be pests of agricultural crops. turn-over of cattle dung and the control of Common genera in PNG are: Agonischius, dung-related fly-problems. The adults of Alaus (fig. 5-34 H, plate 3 R), Oxystethus, phytophagous species usually feed on foliage Elater, Tetrigus, Lacon, etc. and their larvae on the roots of various plants. · Buprestidae* The beautiful jewel beetles Many species are considered as serious pests are also known as metallic wood borers, in agriculture, like the Oryctes centaurus, indicating their often blue, green, gold or feeding on sago, the Taro beetle Papuana, coppery iridescent, metallic body coloration Oryctes rhiconeros on coconut and Xylotru- and the habit of the larvae to feed on pes gideon. Common subfamilies are the nec- cambium, to bore wood of trees and to mine tar-feeding diurnal colourful, mainly metallic other parts of plants. The body of the typical green Cetoniinae (flower or rose chafers, jewel beetle is long, flattened and posteriorly flower scarabs) with the genera Lomaptera, tapered. The size is variable from very small Ischiosopha and Trichaulax (figs. 5-34 F, to large (3 - 30 mm). The adults possess large plate 3 I - M). The whole or the elytra of compound eyes and short, serrate antennae. Lomaptera are used for body decoration The larvae shown in fig. 5-35 C, are called 5. Evolution and Classification 117 ‘flat-headed wood borers’. They are pale and strongly flattened with an expanded thoracic region. Regarding their economic importance, many species are pests of agri- cultural and forestry crops, like the under-bark borers Agrilus opulentus and Agrilus viridissimus (figs. 6-3 Q and R) attacking Eucalyptus deglupta and Terminalia brassii. However, some rare species eg. of the genera Calodema and Metaxymorpha (plate 3 N, O) are valuable and highly esteemed by insect collectors due to their beauty and selling price of up to several hundred Kina per specimen. A B C D E F A number of the shiny iridescent species is traditionally used for body decoration, as shown in fig. 1-3. Common genera in PNG are Agrilus, Anthaxia, Belionota, Callopistus, Cisseis, Coraebus, Cyphogastra (plate 3 P, Q, fig. 5-34 I), Demostis, Endelis, Helferella, Iridotaenia, Polycesta, Merimna, Melobasis, Paracupata, Stigmodera, Calodema, Metaxy- morpha, etc. · Lampyridae The adult ‘fire flies’ and the larval ‘glow worms’ (fig. 5-35 D) obtained their name from the luminous hind portion of G H I J the abdomen and other body parts (see Fig. 5-35: larval Coleoptera (Beetles): (A) chapter 3.1.2). The larvae and even the eggs Aulacocyclus sp. (Passalidae), (B†) larval of particular species have the ability to emit Elateridae, (C) larval Buprestidae, (D) light for mate-finding and for prey-luring. The Luciola sp. (Lampyridae), (E) Lasiodactylus term ‘glow worm’ is misleading, since sp. (Nitidulidae), (F††) larval Tenebrionidae, Lampyridae do not look like worms at all (G) Stegobium sp. (Anobiidae), (H) Platisus (although some do not look like beetles). The sp. (Cucujidae), (I) Coccinella sp. (Coccinell- beetles are soft and flat-bodied with very large idae), (J) Phoracantha sp. (Cerambycidae) compound eyes. The short antennae of (reproduced from CSIRO, 1991; Ross, H.H. et al., Lampyridae are serrate, the legs rather short, 1982†; Pyenson, L.L., 1980††) the elytra flattened, leathery and separately rounded behind. The body colour is black or brown and the prothorax sometimes pale or · Lycidae The mainly phytophagous red. Common in PNG are Lampyris, Luciola, members of this family are soft, flattened, Photinus, Pterophanes, Pteroptyx, Atyphella slender and of medium body size. They are · Cantharidae The small family of Soldier easily recognisable by their ridged or beetles is very similar to Lycidae and is reticulated prothorax and the long, flat, finely characterised by flattened, soft bodies with net-veined elytra. The antennae are serrate or leathery, velvet-like elytra. The antennae of flabellate and moderately long. Lycidae have the small elongate predacious beetles are quite often bright aposematic coloration like filiform, the body coloration is mostly golden red, orange with black, blue and green, since and black. The animals can often be many of them are distasteful for birds and encountered on flowers. Eg. Chauliognathus, other predators. Poisonous Lycidae are often Neogresitta and Silvanotelus are found in PNG the models for mimicry in other families of 118 5. Evolution and Classification beetles and even wasps, flies and moths (fig. Cucujiformia are beetles with more or less 4-16 A-D, chapter 4.4.5). Common genera in strongly clubbed antennae and the tarsal PNG are Calochromus, Xylobanomorphus, formula 5-5-4 Leptotrichalus, Metriorhynchus, Malacolycus, · Cleridae are a family of medium-sized, Xylobanus, Cladophorus (fig.