''Trichodes leucopsideus'' is a species of checkered beetle belonging to the family
Cleridae
Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The family Cleridae has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences.
Cleridae have many Ecological nich ...
, subfamily
Clerinae
Clerinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Cleridae
Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The family Cleridae has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats ...
.
Description
It is a hairy small-medium size beetle with shining blue or black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright reddish orange colour with black bands. This species can easily be distinguished from other
Trichodes
''Trichodes'' is a genus of checkered beetle belonging to the family Cleridae, subfamily Clerinae.
Species
These 64 species belong to the genus ''Trichodes'':
* '' Trichodes affinis'' Chevrolat, 1843
* '' Trichodes albanicus'' Winkler & Zirovnic ...
species by the two small black spots in front of the elytra.
Distribution
These beetles are found in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal and in
North Africa
North Africa (sometimes Northern Africa) is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region. However, it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of t ...
.
Ecology
At the larval stage these beetles are parasites of bees, as the females lay the eggs in the nests of wild bees or in hives of
honey bees
A honey bee (also spelled honeybee) is a eusocial flying insect within the genus ''Apis'' of the bee clade, all native to mainland Afro-Eurasia. After bees spread naturally throughout Africa and Eurasia, humans became responsible for the ...
. After hatching larvae feed on larvae and nymphs of their victims.
The adults grow up to and can be encountered from May through July on the flowers, mainly Apiaceae, feeding on the pollen. However, they integrate their diet with small insects that they actively hunt.
References
External links
Biolib
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3538981
Trichodes, leucopsideus
Beetles of Europe
Beetles described in 1795