''Melasis'' is a genus of soldier beetles native to North America and parts of Europe. It contains fourteen species, four of which can be found in the Nearctic realm.

Description

The species in the genus are approximately 4.0-13.0 mm long. They can be identified by their flat

tibiae The tibia (; ), also known as the shinbone or shankbone, is the larger, stronger, and anterior (frontal) of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates (the other being the fibula, behind and to the outside of the tibia); it connects ...

, lack of

antennal Antennae ( antenna), sometimes referred to as "feelers", are paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. Antennae are connected to the first one or two segments of the arthropod head. They vary widely in form but are always made of one o ...

grooves on the prothorax, and the pectinate antennae of male specimens.

Species

* '' M. brinchangi'' * '' M. pectinicornis'' Melsheimer * '' M. buprestoides'' L. * '' M. fermini'' Sanchez-Ruiz & de la Rosa * '' M. japonica'' Hisamatsu * '' M. rufipalis'' Chevrolat * '' M. rufipennis'' Horn * '' M. shikokensis'' Hisamatsu * '' M. sinensis'' Lucht. * '' M. tibialis'' Lucht. * '' M. tsugae'' Hopping

Distribution and habitat

The species are found across North America, and more densely in Europe. One species is found only in the southwestern United States, two others only on the Western Coast, and another is more widespread in the region, being found across southern Canada and the Eastern United States. Only ''M. bupestroides'' is widespread in Europe, but ''M. fermini'' can also be found in Spain. The species are largely found in forested areas in late April through July. Their larvae usually feed on conifers like firs, and usually develop in hard wood.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18113655 Beetles described in 1790 Elateroidea Elateroidea genera