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COLEOPTERA, Anthicidae -- <Images> & <Juveniles> Description
& Statistics Larvae of a few species
of Anthicidae are predators of the immature stages of other insects, some
being wholly predaceous while others are scavengers or plant feeders. Anthicus
heroicus Casey is a predator of the
sialid, Corydalis cornuta L. The neuropteron lays its eggs during midsummer in large masses
of several thousand. These are
covered with a tough, calcareous material, upon leaves or other objects
overhanging or near water. Both larvae
and adults of Anthicus feed
extensively on these eggs, and a dozen or more may be found in a single egg
mass (Howard 1896). The female beetle
was said to gnaw a hole in the egg mass, in which she placed her own
eggs. When finished feeding, the
larvae enter the soil or trash for pupation.
There are evidently several generations yearly, and hibernation is as
adults (Howard 1896). Gill (cited by
Clausen, 1940) recorded Notoxus monodon F. as feeding on pupae of Archips in rolled leaves. Anthicids bear a
resemblance to ants in and they frequently scurry about willynilly. They have a horned structure that
protrudes toward the head from the pronotum.
Adult beetles are often found on flowers and tree and shrub foliage,
under logs, stones and debris, and burrows.
The larvae live in decaying plant material and fruit (Headstrom 1977,
White 1983). This family of
beetles is sometimes referred to as ant-like flower beetles or ant-like
beetles that resemble ants. The family consists of over 3,000 species in
about 100 genera.
Their heads constrict just in front of the pronotum, forming a neck,
and the posterior end of the pronotum is usually narrow as well. Legs and
antennae are slender, heightening the ant-like appearance, and the body is
sparsely covered with long setae. Adult beetles are omnivorous, being
known to consume small arthropods, pollen, fungi, and whatever else they can
find. Some types are of interest as biological controls, in the expectation
that they would eat the eggs or larvae of pests. Larvae are either
omnivorous, predators, or fungus-eaters; the young of one species of Notoxus
have been observed boring into sweet potato tubers.
Many members of the family are attracted to cantharidin, which they
seem to accumulate and that deters possible predators. Synonyms of the family
include Notoxidae and Ischaliidae. References: Please refer to
<biology.ref.htm>, [Additional references may be
found at: MELVYL Library] Headstrom, R.
1977. The Beetles of
America. A. S. Barnes & Co.
London & NY. 488 p. White, R. E.
1983. A Field Guide to the
Beetles of North America. Houghton
Mifflin Co., Boston. 368 p. |