Cis chinensis

Lawrence, 1991

Cis chinensis is a minute beetle in the Ciidae (minute tree-fungus beetles), first described from China in 1991. It has become established as an in Europe, with confirmed in Switzerland and Germany. The is primarily known as a storage pest of commercially dried fungi, but wild populations have been found living on bracket fungi growing on trees in urban environments. exhibit size plasticity in response to temperature, and the species serves as for specialized and phoretic mites.

Cis chinensis by (c) PLAT Vincent, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by PLAT Vincent. Used under a CC-BY license.Horsford's descriptive catalogue of hardy ornamentals herbaceous plants bulbs ferns shrubs and vines (1894) (14783212893) by Internet Archive Book Images. Used under a No restrictions license.Cis chinensis dorsal by Tropicis. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cis chinensis: /sɪs kɪˈnɛn.sɪs/

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Habitat

Urban and semi-urban environments; specifically found on fruitbodies of bracket fungi (Polyporales) growing on trees. In Basel, Switzerland, established on Antrodia xantha fungus on Pinus strobus in a therapy garden setting. Also occurs in commercial storage facilities for dried fungi.

Distribution

Native to China; in Europe with established in Switzerland (Basel) and Germany (low mountains). GBIF records indicate presence in Brazil (Minas Gerais) and France.

Diet

Fungal fruitbodies, specifically bracket fungi (Polyporales: Fomitopsidaceae). Known : Antrodia xantha.

Host Associations

  • Antrodia xantha - fungus - fruitbody substratePolyporales: Fomitopsidaceae; primary in European
  • Pinus strobus - tree of fungal substrateeastern white pine; tree for Antrodia xantha in Basel
  • Cleruchus breviclava - Mymaridae fairyfly; newly described from Basel
  • Histiostomatidae - phoretic mitesunusually heavy observed on Basel ; mites use as carrier

Life Cycle

(4–)5 larval stages postulated for larval development. Developmental timing appears temperature-sensitive; above-average June temperatures correlated with larger size in second cohort.

Behavior

exhibit size plasticity in response to environmental temperature. Heavy phoretic mite noted in wild , with Histiostomatidae mites using the as a carrier organism.

Ecological Role

Decomposer of fungal fruitbodies in forest and urban . Serves as for specialized ( parasitoids in Mymaridae) and as carrier for phoretic mites.

Human Relevance

Storage pest of commercially dried fungi. in Europe with potential ecological impacts on native fungal and associated fauna.

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