Melyridae

Dasytes plumbeus

The woolly beetle ( Dasytidae ) are a subfamily of beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea to the best-known family includes the checkered beetles.

Anatomical features

The woolly beetles are anatomically a well-defined subfamily. The body is hairy shaggy. The front hips are more or less cone- shaped hanging down. They touch on the inside. They are steered into the Vorderhüfthöhlen that are open to the rear. The rear hips, however, are placed horizontally. The abdomen has six, rarely five visible abdominal plates ( sternites ). The tarsi are all five-membered, and the fourth element is clearly visible. The claw member is usually not easy, but serrated or provided with a pair of skin flaps. The neck plate is edged laterally sharp. The sensors are thread-like and more or less cut. The male reproductive system is built relatively uniform. The penis is more or less bent tube or a bicuspid ends. The thin parameres arise on the ventral side and unite on the dorsal side in a more or less chitinisierten bridge.

Biological characteristics

Where known, the larvae are predators in old woods, the beetles are found on flowers. They play an important role as pollinators.

System

The family is distributed worldwide. In Russia, 45 species are estimated. Worldwide, 25 genera are out .. In Europe, 16 genera are common.

• Chaetomalachius
• Dasytidius
• Dasytiscus
• Haplithrix
• Danacea
• Allotarsus
• Dasysoma
• Dasytes e.g. Woolly Blue Beetle ( Dasytes caeruleus)
• E.g. Dasytes plumbeus
• E.g. Dasytes niger

• Dolichosoma linear