Tritoma | |
---|---|
Tritoma bipustulata | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Erotylidae |
Tribe: | Tritomini |
Genus: |
Tritoma Fabricius, 1775 [1] |
Tritoma is a genus of beetles in the family Erotylidae, the pleasing fungus beetles. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in the Old World. [2] There are over 100 species. [2]
Some species consume euagaric mushrooms, staying concealed amidst the gills as they feed. [3] Some feed on mushrooms growing from dead trees, as well as mycorrhizae on living roots. [4] One of the most common pleasing fungus beetles in Europe, T. bipustulata, is a black beetle with red spots which engages in autohaemorrhaging as a defensive behavior. [5]
Molecular analysis suggests that Tritoma is paraphyletic, and might be best treated as two separate genera. [3]
Data sources: i = ITIS, [6] c = Catalogue of Life, [7] g = GBIF, [8] b = Bugguide.net [9]
Tritoma | |
---|---|
Tritoma bipustulata | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Erotylidae |
Tribe: | Tritomini |
Genus: |
Tritoma Fabricius, 1775 [1] |
Tritoma is a genus of beetles in the family Erotylidae, the pleasing fungus beetles. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in the Old World. [2] There are over 100 species. [2]
Some species consume euagaric mushrooms, staying concealed amidst the gills as they feed. [3] Some feed on mushrooms growing from dead trees, as well as mycorrhizae on living roots. [4] One of the most common pleasing fungus beetles in Europe, T. bipustulata, is a black beetle with red spots which engages in autohaemorrhaging as a defensive behavior. [5]
Molecular analysis suggests that Tritoma is paraphyletic, and might be best treated as two separate genera. [3]
Data sources: i = ITIS, [6] c = Catalogue of Life, [7] g = GBIF, [8] b = Bugguide.net [9]