Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Coleoptera (Beetles) ➔ Family Cryptophagidae (Silken fungus beetles)
Antherophagus pallens Linné, 1758
Synonyms and other combinations:
Ips nigricornis Fabricius, 1787 | Antherophagus maculipennis A. Villa, 1833 | Antherophagus fasciatus Roubal, 1935 | Antherophagus fasciferus Roubal, 1935 |
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2018-07-13 13:40:47
conf. Hannes (HH)
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2018-07-13 13:40:29
conf. Hannes (HH)
Classification:
Antherophagus pallens belongs to the subfamily Cryptophaginae, tribe Cryptophagini.Distribution:
Europe, Asia; widespread, but rare to find.Description:
Antherophagus pallens is a 4.5 - 5 mm large brownish-yellow beetle with very fine, closely fitting yellowish hair on the upper side.Biology:
Adults of Antherophagus pallens visit flowers. They can be preferably found on white Lamiaceae (Lamium, Melittis). The beetle shown here sat on a cabbage thistle (Cirsium oleraceum).The adult beetles wait for flowers visiting bumblebees and let themselves transport by the bumblebees to their nest. This process, in which one species uses another as a mean of transport, is called phoresy or phoresis. The female beetles lay their eggs in the bumblebee nest. After hatching, the beetle larvae live and develop in the bumblebee nest. They feed on wax and organic waste.
Note:
Within the genus Antherophagus there is confusion in the names, as these were recently swapped.Antherophagus pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) [valid name] <= Antherophagus nigricornis (Fabricius, 1787) [synonym]
Antherophagus similis Curtis, 1835 [valid name] <= Antherophagus pallens (Linnaeus, 1758) [synonym]
Antherophagus silaceus Herbst, 1792 [valid name] <= Antherophagus canescens Grouvelle, 1916 [synonym]
References, further reading, links:
- de Jong, Y.S.D.M. (ed.) (2013) Fauna Europaea version 2.6.2 Web Service available online at https://fauna-eu.org/
- Arved Lompe: Die Käfer Europas - Ein Bestimmungswerk im Internet