False Blister Beetles
Oedemeridae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
- Family: Oedemeridae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Oedemeridae: //ˌiːdəˈmɛrɪdiː//
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Summary
Oedemeridae, or false blister beetles, are medium-sized beetles known for their colorful appearance and association with floral habitats. Their larvae are xylophagous, primarily residing in decomposing wood, while adults are often found feeding on nectar and pollen.
Physical Characteristics
Slender, soft-bodied beetles of medium size that are often brightly colored. Antennae are long and filiform with 11 segments, and the tarsi show a bilobed penultimate segment. The head lacks a narrow neck, the prothorax is much narrower than the elytra with no lateral edges, and the procoxal cavities are open behind with contiguous conical procoxae.
Identification Tips
Look for adult beetles commonly on flowers with the characteristic elongated body and colorful appearance. The bilobed penultimate tarsal segment can also help in identification.
Habitat
Moist wooded habitats, often found in association with flowers or resting on foliage and in damp, decaying wood such as logs, stumps, and roots of hardwoods and conifers.
Distribution
Cosmopolitan, with approximately 1500 species in 115 genera worldwide, and 13 species in Canada.
Diet
Adults feed on nectar and pollen, while larvae are typically xylophagous, boring into damp, decaying wood.
Life Cycle
Adults are diurnal in temperate regions but mostly nocturnal in tropical areas, where they are attracted to light. Larvae develop in moist, rotten logs and dead stems of plants.
Ecosystem Role
Adults are important as pollinators due to their feeding habits, while larvae play a role in decomposing wood.
Economic Impact
Generally low economic importance, although the larvae of Nacerdes melanura can damage docks and wharves in coastal regions.
Health Concerns
Some species produce toxic cantharidin, which can cause blistering.
Collecting Methods
- Hand collecting on flowers
- Timber sampling for larvae
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation
- Drying and pinning
Evolution
The family was established in 1810 by Pierre André Latreille. The oldest known member is Darwinylus from Albian-aged amber, indicating a long association with gymnosperms before shifting to flowering plants.
Misconceptions
Misunderstood as true blister beetles due to their similar appearance.
Tags
- Oedemeridae
- False Blister Beetles
- Pollen Feeding Beetles
- Beetles
- Insects