Lycus trabeatus

Lycus trabeatus, common name tailed net-winged beetle, is a species of beetle in the Lycidae family, which is native to the eastern, southern Afrotropics and Arabian Peninsula. They are diurnal, aposematic insects. Adults feed on various flowers and their nectar, while larvae live under tree bark, in dead wood, or in detritus where they may live on fungi.[2]

Tailed net-winged beetle
In eastern South Africa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Lycidae
Genus:
Lycus
Species:
L. trabeatus
Binomial name
Lycus trabeatus
Synonyms
  • Chlamydolycus trabeatus

Range and habitat

It is known to occur in Eritrea, Ethiopia, the DRC, Tanzania, Namibia , Oman and South Africa. It inhabits subtropical forests, savannahs and grasslands.[2]

Description

Lycus trabeatus reaches a length of about 22–31 millimetres (0.87–1.22 in). The pronotum has a black center and orange edges. The elytra are black at their bases, on the apical lobes, and sometimes along the dilated edges. Elytra are variable in shape, from widely expanded with a constriction towards the apical lobe, to intermediate or slender. The black antennae are mildly serrate. Femora are orange and the lower legs are black.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies:

  • Lycus trabeatus trabeatus
Range: eastern and southern Afrotropics
Description: Female's total length about 22 mm, pronotum 4 mm x 4 mm, elytron 18 mm long, dilated laterally, narrowing towards apical lobe.
  • Lycus trabeatus matojoi
Range: southern highlands of Tanzania
Description: Female's total length about 18 mm, pronotum 3 mm x 3 mm, elytron 15 x 4 mm.
  • specimen from Namibia
  • specimen from Eritrea
  • lateral view
  • ventral aspect

References
  1. "Lycus trabeatus". BioLib.cz. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  2. Picker, Mike; Griffiths, Charles; Weaving, Alan (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa (new updated ed.). Cape Town: Struik Publishers. pp. 218–221. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.


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