Meloe
Blue Black oil beetle ( Meloe proscarabaeus )
Meloe is a genus of blister beetles ( Meloidae ). Linnaeus has described the genus in 1758. According to Webster 's Unabridged Dictionary in the edition of 1913, the name comes from the Greek and means " wound probe ".
Features
What is noticeable in all the ways that the elytra are much shorter than the abdomen and in the end diverge greatly. Hind wing absent.
Way of life
The animals produce toxic defense compounds that are included in their blood, the hemolymph. In case of danger they may escape the liquid from pores on their leg joints let ( reflex bleeding). This is strongly reminiscent of the oil droplets and the beetles were their names. The main active ingredient is Cantharidin and protects primarily against ants and beetles.
The development of about three millimeters long larvae proceeds via a Hyper metamorphosis, the various larval stages are therefore designed differently. Here, the first stage is designed as a three Klauer ( Triungulinus ) and serves as the dissemination stage, by focusing on a potential host animal clings ( solitary bees), is on the waiting sitting on flowers and then carry into the nest of the host leaves ( phoretic life ). After the larvae have eaten the egg first and then the nectar and pollen mixture of the pantry of bees leaving the nest. They molt one more time and then are rather made like and hardly movable, with back legs formed and pupate.
Types (selection)
- Meloe aegyptius Brandt & Erichson, 1832
- Meloe atratus Meyer, 1793
- Blue Shimmering Maiwurmkäfer ( Meloe autumnalis Olivier, 1792)
- Dickhörniger Maiwurmkäfer ( Meloe brevicollis Panzer, 1793)
- Meloe brunsvicensis Meyer, 1793
- Shiny Black Maiwurmkäfer ( Meloe coriarius Brandt & Erichson, 1832)
- Meloe crispatus Fairmaire, 1884
- Meloe cyanella Brullé, 1832
- Meloe cyaneus Mulsant, 1857
- Meloe exaratus Faldermann, 1832
- Meloe gallicus Baudi, 1878
- Gelbrandiger Maiwurmkäfer ( Meloe Hungarus cabinet, 1776)
- Meloe incertus exchanger, 1812
- Meloe megacephalus Fischer von Waldheim, 1842
- Meloe pannonicus Baudi, 1878
- Blue Black oil beetle ( Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758)
- Feingerunzelter Maiwurmkäfer ( Meloe scabriusculus Brandt & Erichson, 1832)
- Colorful oil beetle ( Meloe variegatus Donovan, 1793)
- Violet oil beetle ( Meloe violaceus Marsham, 1802)