Paramordellaria triloba

(Say, 1824)

Three-lobed Tumbling Flower Beetle

Paramordellaria triloba is a of tumbling flower beetle in the Mordellidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Québec) and the United States. Tumbling flower beetles are characterized by their distinctive ability to 'tumble' or jump when disturbed, aided by their wedge-shaped bodies and powerful hind legs.

Paramordellaria triloba by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Paramordellaria triloba by (c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman. Used under a CC-BY license.Paramordellaria triloba by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Paramordellaria triloba: /ˌpærəˌmɔrdɛˈlɛəriə traɪˈloʊbə/

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Images

Distribution

North America, with confirmed records from Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec in Canada, and the United States.

Behavior

Members of the Mordellidae are known for their characteristic 'tumbling' when disturbed, using their wedge-shaped bodies and enlarged hind legs to spring into the air and tumble erratically.

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Sources and further reading