Tritoma

For the plant genus, see Kniphofia.
Tritoma
Tritoma bipustulata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Erotylidae
Genus: Tritoma
Fabricius, 1775[1]

Tritoma is a genus of beetles in the family Erotylidae, the pleasing fungus beetles. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in the Old World.[2] There are over 100 species.[2]

Some species consume euagaric mushrooms, staying concealed amidst the gills as they feed.[3] Some feed on mushrooms growing from dead trees, as well as mycorrhizae on living roots.[4] One of the most common pleasing fungus beetles in Europe, T. bipustulata, is a black beetle with red spots which engages in autohaemorrhaging as a defensive behavior.[5]

Molecular analysis suggests that Tritoma is paraphyletic, and might be best treated as two separate genera.[3]

Species include:

References

Wikispecies has information related to: Tritoma
  1. ↑ International Commission On Zoological Nomenclature (1994). "Opinion 1754. Histoire abrégée des insectes qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris (Geoffroy, 1762): some generic names conserved (Crustacea, Insecta)". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 51 (1): 58–70.
  2. 1 2 Goodrich, M. A. and C. A. Springer. (1999). The pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 25 53-71.
  3. 1 2 Robertson, J. A., et al. (2004). A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): evolution of colour patterns, gregariousness and mycophagy. Systematic Entomology 29(2) 173–87.
  4. ↑ Skelly, P. E. Pleasing Fungus Beetles, Pseudischyrus, Tritoma, Megalodacne, Ischyrus spp. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Erotylidae). EENY-091. Entomology and Nematology. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 1999.
  5. ↑ Drilling, K. and K. Dettner. (2010). First insights into the chemical defensive system of the erotylid beetle, Tritoma bipustulata. Chemoecology 20(4), 243-53.

External links

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