Calopteron

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Lycidae
Subfamily: Lycinae
Tribe: Calopterini
Genus: Calopteron

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Calopteron: /kæˈlɒptəˌrɒn/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Banded Net-wing - Calopteron reticulatum, Leesylvania State Park, Va by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

End Band Net-wing (Calopteron terminale) (28492686736) by Andrew C. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

End Band Net-winged Beetle (Calopteron terminale) - Gatineau Park, Quebec 2016-09-22 (01) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

End Band Net-winged Beetle (Calopteron terminale) - Gatineau Park, Quebec 2016-09-22 (02) by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Lycid Beetle (28564425996) by Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C., USA. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Calopteron terminale P1450801a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Calopteron is a genus of net-winged beetles characterized by their toxic nature, aposematic coloration, and a life cycle which includes predacious larvae and nectar-feeding adults. They inhabit temperate regions in the New World, and their larvae play a role in the decomposition of wood.

Physical Characteristics

Large, boldly-marked net-winged beetles with broad, delicate elytra, flared out towards the rear.

Identification Tips

Keys to species may not apply to all specimens; look for distinctive aposematic coloration typical of toxic species.

Habitat

Adults are found on flowers and vegetation, especially near water; larvae can be found in rotten logs, under loose bark, and sometimes in soil or leaf litter.

Distribution

New World; in our area, distribution ranges from eastern New Brunswick-Florida to Manitoba-Texas.

Diet

Adults feed on nectar; larvae prey on small arthropods under bark or possibly on slime molds, fungi, and fermenting plant juices.

Life Cycle

Eggs are laid on the bark of dead or injured trees. Larvae feed on insects under bark and pupate there. They are found in groups.

Reproduction

Eggs are laid on the bark of dead or injured trees.

Predators

Rejected by thrushes, wolf spiders, and orb-weaving spiders due to their toxicity.

Ecosystem Role

Adults are pollinators while larvae contribute to decomposition and biological control of other small arthropods.

Health Concerns

Contain a toxic compound, an acetylenic acid.

Collecting Methods

Hand collection from flowers and vegetation
Capture in malaise traps near water

Preservation Methods

Pinned specimens for museum collections
Ethanol for larval preservation

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Some moths mimic these beetles, which may lead to confusion with non-toxic species.