Epomis dejeani

Epomis dejeani
Epomis dejeani eating a fire salamander, Salamandra salamandra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Subfamily: Licininae
Tribe: Chlaeniini
Genus: Epomis
Species: E. dejeani
Binomial name
Epomis dejeani

Epomis dejeani is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic and the Middle East.[1] It is known from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine.[1][2]

Adult beetles are metallic blue or green colored, with a striking yellow-orange rim on the elytra and mostly yellow-colored legs and antennae. They are 15–19.5 millimeters in length.[3]

The larvae reach a body length of up to 20 millimeters, they are yellow colored with black markings. Like many ground beetle larvae they are elongated with two extensions (urogomphi) at the rear end. They have characteristic double-hooked mandibles. The larvae feed exclusively on amphibians, which they lure by making prey-like movements.[4] The adult beetles are generalist predators, but can also feed on amphibians much larger than themselves.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Wizen Gil, Drees Claudia, & Gasith Avital (2012). Distribution of two Epomis species (Carabidae, Chlaeniini) in Israel, with notes on their habitat. Israel Journal of Entomology 41: 95–106.
  2. ↑ "Chlaenius (Epomis) dejeanii Dejean, 1831a: 669 - Carabidae". carabidae.org. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  3. ↑ Trautner Jürgen, & Geigenmüller Katrin (1987). Tiger beetles, ground beetles. Illustrated key to the Cicindelidae and Carabidae of Europe. TRIOPS Verlag.
  4. ↑ Wizen, Gil; Gasith, Avital (2011-09-21). "An unprecedented role reversal: ground beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) lure amphibians and prey upon them". PLoS ONE. 6 (9): e25161. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025161. PMC 3177849Freely accessible. PMID 21957480.
  5. ↑ Wizen, Gil; Gasith, Avital. "Predation of amphibians by carabid beetles of the genus Epomis found in the central coastal plain of Israel". ZooKeys. 100: 181–191. doi:10.3897/zookeys.100.1526. PMC 3131015Freely accessible. PMID 21738411.
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