''Choresine'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of beetles that belong to the family

Melyridae Melyridae (common name: soft-winged flower beetles) are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. Description Most are elongate-oval, soft-bodied beetles 10 mm long or less. Many are brightly patterned in black and brown, yellow, ...

. This genus of beetle is known to have high levels of batrachotoxins and is believed to be a possible toxin source for Pitohui and Blue-capped ifrit birds in New Guinea. Collections from Herowana in the

Eastern Highlands Province Eastern Highlands is a highlands province of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital is Goroka. The province covers an area of 11,157 km2, and has a population of 579,825 (2011 census). The province shares a common administrative boundary w ...

that tested positive for batrachotoxins included the more abundant '' C. pulchra'', the less abundant '' C. semiopaca'' and the two infrequent '' C. rugiceps'' and '' C. sp. A'', the latter as yet unnamed. The locals advise against allowing these beetles to touch the eyes or sweaty face as a severe burning sensation can result. These species are all described as having metallic blue-violaceous elytra and a yellow and blackish pronotum. The name "nanisani" is used by villagers in Herowana equally for this group of insects, the numbing, tingling, burning sensation they cause and the Blue-capped ifrit. The hypothesis that ''

Phyllobates ''Phyllobates'' is a genus of poison dart frogs native to Central and South America, from Nicaragua to Colombia. There are 3 different Colombian species of ''Phyllobates'', considered highly toxic species due to the poison they contain in the wil ...

'' frogs in South America obtain batrachotoxins from related genera of the Melyridae (''Choresine'' does not occur there) has not been tested due to the difficulty of field-work in

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

.John P. Dumbacher, Avit Wako, Scott R. Derrickson, Allan Samuelson, Thomas F. Spande, John W. Daly (2004):
Melyrid beetles (Choresine): A putative source for the batrachotoxin alkaloids found in poison-dart frogs and toxic passerine birds
'. The National Academy of Sciences. Vol. 101 no. 45, 15857-15860

Species

* '' Choresine advena'' Pascoe, 1860 * '' Choresine buruensis'' Champion, 1923 * '' Choresine magnioculata'' Wittmer, 1973W. Wittmer:
Zur Kenntnis der Malachiidae (Col.) von Neuguinea, Neubritannien, Neuirland und den Salomonen.
' In: ''Pacific Insects'', Volume 15, Nr. 3–4, 20. December 1973, P. 298–352. * '' Choresine moluccana'' Champion, 1923 * '' Choresine neogressittiana'' Wittmer, 1973 * '' Choresine nigroviolacea'' Champion, 1923 * '' Choresine pulchra'' (Pic, 1917) * '' Choresine reductorugata'' Wittmer, 1973 * '' Choresine rufiventris'' Wittmer, 1973 * '' Choresine rugiceps'' Wittmer, 1973 * '' Choresine semiopaca'' Wittmer, 1973 * '' Choresine sp. A'', as yet unnamed

References

Cleroidea genera Melyridae {{Melyridae-stub