Catalogue of Organisms: Lichen Darklings

The beetles of the household Tenebrionidae, also known as the darkling beetles, are a various bunch. Members of this household have tailored to a variety of existence, coming in a wide range of physique sorts. Among the many extra obscure representatives of the tenebrionids are the members of the Southern Hemisphere tribe Titaenini.

Titaena sp., copyright Martin Lagerwey.

Members of the Titaenini have a typical Gondwanan distribution, being recognized from southern and jap Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and southern South America (Matthews & Bouchard 2008). They develop as much as a couple of centimetre and a half in size with an elongate, parallel-sided physique form that is kind of cylindrical. The prothorax is comparatively brief, permitting the pinnacle to be held vertically within the Australian genus Titaena. Antennae are brief with pretty easy segments not forming a membership on the finish. Legs have equally easy tarsi. The tribe is distinguished from different, related darkling beetles by the epipleura (the flattened underside of the elytral margins) that are shortened, not reaching the elytral apex. Members of the Titaenini have massive repugnatorial glands opening close to the top of the stomach. Within the Australian genus Titaena, a minimum of, species are often metallic blue or inexperienced in coloration.

The habits of the Titaenini are poorly recognized. So far as we do know, their larvae are specialised feeders on lichen. Adults most likely pursue an identical weight-reduction plan. That is an uncovered way of life, one wherein you may simply come to the eye of predators, and the brilliant coloration of Titaena most likely features to warn off any such unwelcome curiosity.

REFERENCE

Matthews, E. G., & P. Bouchard. 2008. Tenebrionid Beetles of Australia: Descriptions of tribes, keys to genera, catalogue of species. Australian Organic Assets Research: Canberra.