Trichodes apiarius
Encyclopedia
Trichodes apiarius is a beetle
species of checkered beetles belonging to the family Cleridae
, subfamily Clerinae.
These beetles are found in most of Europe
, in East Palearctic ecozone and in North Africa
.
It is an hairy small beetle with shining blue or black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands. This species can easily be distinguished from Trichodes alvearius
for the black terminal band reaching the apex of elytra.
At the larval stage theese beetles are parasites of bees (hence the name “apiarius”), as the adults lay the eggs in the nests of solitary bees (Osmia and Megachile
species) or in hives of honey bees, eating larvae and nymphs of their victims.
The adults grow up to 9–16 mm (0.354330708661417–0.62992125984252 ) and can be encountered from May through June on the flowers, mainly Apiaceae
, feeding on the pollen. However, they integrate their diet with small insects that they actively hunt.
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
species of checkered beetles belonging to the family Cleridae
Cleridae
Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The Cleridae family has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences....
, subfamily Clerinae.
These beetles are found in most of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, in East Palearctic ecozone and in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
It is an hairy small beetle with shining blue or black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands. This species can easily be distinguished from Trichodes alvearius
Trichodes alvearius
Trichodes alvearius is a species of Soldier or Checkered beetle belonging to the family Cleridae, subfamily Clerinae.- Description :Trichodes alvearius is a very hairy beetle with black head and scutellum. The elongated elytra show a bright red colour with black bands...
for the black terminal band reaching the apex of elytra.
At the larval stage theese beetles are parasites of bees (hence the name “apiarius”), as the adults lay the eggs in the nests of solitary bees (Osmia and Megachile
Megachile
The genus Megachile is a cosmopolitan group of solitary bees, often called leafcutter bees. While other genera within the family Megachilidae may chew leaves or petals into fragments to build their nests, certain species within Megachile neatly cut pieces of leaves or petals, hence their common name...
species) or in hives of honey bees, eating larvae and nymphs of their victims.
The adults grow up to 9–16 mm (0.354330708661417–0.62992125984252 ) and can be encountered from May through June on the flowers, mainly Apiaceae
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
, feeding on the pollen. However, they integrate their diet with small insects that they actively hunt.