Malthinus
Latreille, 1805
soldier beetles
Species Guides
3- Malthinus difficilis
- Malthinus occipitalis(yellow-tipped soldier beetle)
- Malthinus texanus
Malthinus is a of soldier beetles in the Cantharidae containing more than 140 described . The genus has been recorded from Europe, North America, Japan, and the Canary Islands. Species occupy diverse ranging from mountainous regions to lowland areas, with some showing distinct altitudinal preferences. The genus has a fossil record extending to the Eocene, with specimens preserved in Baltic amber.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Malthinus: //ˈmælθɪnəs//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Habitat
occupy varied including mountainous regions and lowland plains. Malthinus maritimus has been observed in mountainous areas of France, captured by beating oaks and hazels. Fossil evidence from Eocene Baltic amber indicates ancestors inhabited humid, warm climates with diverse vegetation and conifer forests.
Distribution
Europe (including France, Scandinavia), North America, Japan, Canary Islands. Specific records include Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Caucasus region and potentially Asia Minor if synonymy of M. maritimus with M. delicatulus is confirmed.
Host Associations
- Quercus - beating oaks
- Corylus - beating hazels
Behavior
Males are identifiable using external and aedeagal characters; female identification is often difficult or impossible in some groups.
Similar Taxa
- Malthinus balteatusOccurs in plains or at lower altitudes, contrasting with the mountainous distribution of M. maritimus
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Sur Malthinus maritimus Pic et ses habitats [Col.]
- Zur Kenntnis der Käferfauna der Kanarischen Inseln 8. Revision der Gattung Malthinus Latr. (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)
- A new Malthinus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae: Malthininae) adds to the unrivaled diversity of arthropods found in Eocene Baltic amber
- A review of Malthinus Latreille, 1806 of the Caucasus (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), with description of a new species and notes on distribution of the genus in the region
- The genome sequence of a soldier beetle, Malthinus seriepunctatus Kiesenwetter, 1851.
- The genome sequence of a soldier beetle, Malthinus flaveolus (Herbst, 1786).