''Merimna atrata'' is a species of

beetle Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...

in the family

Buprestidae Buprestidae is a family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent colors. Larvae of this family are known as flatheaded borers. The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some ...

, family

Buprestinae Buprestinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following genera in the tribes Anthaxiini, Buprestini, Chrysobothrini, Melanophilini, and Xenorhipidini: * ''Actenodes'' Dejean, 1833 * '' Afagrilaxia'' Bily & ...

, tribe Melanophilini and is the only species in the genus ''Merimna''. It is native to Australia. It is a pyrophilic species, preferentially laying its eggs in recently burned wood. Its body has infrared sensors which allows it to avoid landing on burning hot surfaces.

References

Monotypic Buprestidae genera {{Buprestidae-stub