Acmaeodera

Acmaeodera
female A. viridaenea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Buprestoidea
Family: Buprestidae
Genus: Acmaeodera
Eschscholtz, 1829
Acmaeodera brooksi
Acmaeodera excellens
Acmaeodera louwi
Acmaeodera signata gaerdesi
Acmaeodera viridaenea

Acmaeodera is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, a group of metallic wood-boring beetles favored by insect collectors. Whereas most beetles including most buprestids fly with their elytra held out and vibrating their hindwings to give lift and thrust, the Acmaedodera, however, fly with their hind wings only — the elytra are fused down the center and form a shield over the insect's abdomen, even during flight. This fact, combined with the banding across the abdomen which is common (though not universal) in this family, gives many of them a distinct wasp-like appearance when in flight. Several are therefore considered hymenopteran mimics.[1]

Species

The genus contains the following species:[2]

References

  1. ↑ Thomas Eisner; Maria Eisner; Melody Siegler (2005). Secret Weapons: Defenses of Insects, Spiders, Scorpions, and Other Many-legged Creatures. Harvard University. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-674-01882-2. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Acmaeodera". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 08, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.