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Beetles

CARABIDAE
Ground Beetles

STAPHYLINIDAE
Rove Beetles 

LUCANIDAE
Golden Stag Beetle
SCARABAEIDAE
Scarab Beetles

BUPRESTIDAE
Variable Jewel Beetle
CastiarinaJewel Beetle
Variegate Jewel Beetle
DysenteryPlant Jewel Beetle
DarkBlue BanksiaJewel Beetle 
Circle-dottedJewel Beetle
Marble Jewel Beetle
Pea Flower Jewel Beetle 

EUCNEMIDAE
False Click Beetles
ELATERIDAE
Click Beetles 
LYCIDAE
Long-noseLycidBeetle
RedShoulderLycid Beetle
CANTHARIDAE
Plague Soldier Beetle
Tricolor Soldier Beetle
Yellow Soldier Beetle
Red-tippedSoldier Beetle 

ANOBIIDAE
Spider Beetle 

CLERIDAE
Clerid Beetles
MELYRIDAE
Red and Blue Beetle
RedSoft-winged Beetle
YellowSoft-winged Beetle

NITIDULIDAE
Sap Beetles
LANGURIIDAE
Lizard Beetles

COCCINELLIDAE 
Ladybird Beetles 

MORDELLIDAE
Pintail Beetles
RHIPIPHORIDAE
Wedge-shaped Beetles TENEBRIONIDAE
Brown Darkling Beetle
Black Darkling Beetle
ChalcopterusBeetleII
ChalcopterusBeetleIII
Pie-dish Beetle
OEDEMERIDAE
Lycid-mimicPollen Beetle
Black Pollen Beetle
Striped Pollen Beetle
MELOIDAE
Blister Beetles  
 

CERAMBYCIDAE
Longicorn Beetles
CHRYSOMELIDAE 
Leaf Beetles  

BELIDAE
Belid Weevils
CURCULIONIDAE
True Weevil

Other Beetle Families 

                                               

Lycid Beetles - FAMILY LYCIDAE

This page contains information and pictures about Lycid Beetles that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
 
Body length 20mm
 
Lycid Beetles are elongated and flattened beetles that may be found on flowers or on plant surfaces. Some species adults are nectar-feeders, some are not feed at all. Their head is usually triangular in shape. Antennae are medium long , thick and in serrate form (saw-tooth-like segments). Most of them are in typical brick-red and black colours. Adults feed on pollen, usually found on flowers or plants surface, although they are also considered as predatory. 
 
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Lycid larva, ? sp. , length 20mm
 
Larvae can be found under bark, in soil or in leaf litter. They are elongate and somewhat flattened. They feed on dead wood and fungi. They also prey on other insect larvae and pupae.
 
Lycid Beetles are distasteful to birds which is the model of the Lycid Beetle mimicry complex. When disturbed, they produce a milky fluid that tastes nasty. Many beetles and other insects mimic their colours and body shape. It is very confusing. One key feature to recognize the  Lycid Beetle is their distinctive ridged thorax surface. 
 

 
Long-nosed Lycid Beetle
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Porrostoma rhipidium, (Metriorrhynchus rhipidius), Metriorrhynchinae, Metriorrhynchini, body length 20mm
This Lycid Beetle is quite common in Brisbane bushes. We found them from time to time. They may be found on leaves or feeding on flowers.
More pictures and information can be found in this page.
 
 
Red Shoulder Lycid Beetle
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Trichalus ampliatus (Metriorrhynchus ampliatus) , Metriorrhynchinae, Metriorrhynchini, body length 20mm 
This beetle look similar to the above species except both sides of the head is brick-red colour. The second picture shows two Lycid beetles get caught on a plant stem. The plant has hook hairs on stem and leave which will attach even on our skin or clothes. Once insects land on them, are trapped. Please also visit this page for more information.
 
 
Large Eyes Lycid Beetle
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?sp., body length 10mm
Pictures were taken in Karawatha Forest Dentata Track near a dry creek Nov 2007. 
 
 
Lycid Beetle
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?sp., body length 10mm
Three Lycid Beetles in a mating complex. Photo taken in Yugarapul Park during early summer.  
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Reference and Link:
1. LYCIDAE - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Heritage.  
2. Insects of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 638.
3. A guide to the Genera of Beetles of South Australia Part.4 - Matthews, E.G. 1985, p8. 
 
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Up ] Ground Beetles ] Rove Beetles ] Scarab Beetles ] Jewel Beetles ] False Click Beetle ] Click Beetles ] [ Lycid Beetles ] Soldier Beetles ] Furniture Beetles ] Clerid Beetles ] Soft-winged Flower Beetles ] Sap Beetles ] Lizard Beetles ] Ladybirds ] Pintail Beetles ] Wedge-shaped Beetles ] Darkling Beetles ] Pollen-feeding Beetles ] Blister Beetle ] Belid Weevils ] Weevils ] Others ]


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Last updated: December 23, 2008.