Malachiina
Malachiina
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Cleroidea
- Family: Melyridae
- Subfamily: Malachiinae
- Tribe: Malachiini
- Subtribe: Malachiina
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Malachiina: /ˌmæləˈkaɪənə/
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Summary
Malachiina is a subtribe of small, soft-winged flower beetles within the family Melyridae, known for their role in pollination and their presence in various European habitats.
Physical Characteristics
Soft-winged, small beetles with a characteristic elongated shape.
Identification Tips
Look for soft, often brightly colored bodies and clubbed antennae; typically found on flowers.
Habitat
Commonly found in gardens, meadows, and forest edges, particularly in proximity to flowers.
Distribution
Reported from various European countries including Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the former Yugoslavia.
Diet
Adults feed on pollen and nectar, while larvae are often predators or scavengers.
Life Cycle
Typical beetle life cycle with egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, specific details vary by species.
Reproduction
Mating occurs on or around flowers, with females laying eggs in suitable substrates.
Ecosystem Role
Pollinators of flowers and potential control agents of pest populations due to predatory larvae.
Collecting Methods
- Netting adults from flowers
- Using light traps
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol
- Drying in silica gel
Similar Taxa
- Other genera within Melyridae
- Other beetle families that are flower visitors
Tags
- Malachiina
- Melyridae
- beetles
- pollinators
- European fauna