Clytra laeviuscula
Ant bag beetle ( Clytra laeviuscula )
The Ant bag beetles or ants leaf-beetle ( Clytra laeviuscula ) is a species of beetle in the family of leaf beetles ( Chrysomelidae ).
Features
The beetles are 7-11 mm long and have a drum-shaped physique. The wing covers are reddish orange to orange- yellow, and each have a small black spot on the shoulder and approximately centered on the wing covers a broad, black band. This is narrower at the elytra seam and the top sides of the blade, which is divided into two roundish spots. Occasionally, these two spots are divided again, each connected over the seam out or missing entirely. The rest of the body is black as well as the pronotum. The latter is almost smooth and has a very narrow, trough- shaped side edge. The species can be confused with the very similar Clytra quadripunctata. However, this type has less strongly pronounced black spots on the wing covers and a wide neck plate with a wrinkled edge.
Occurrence
The species is detected in almost all of Europe, with the exception of the far north, as well as Ireland, Portugal and Greece. The animals inhabit different habitats such as forest edges and dry sunny slopes, but also flood plains and parks. The species occurs from May to August often.
Way of life
The adults feed on hawthorns, ash and willow on which they are usually found. The beetles mate near ant nests, the eggs are covered with scales from feces and dropped. The ants eventually carry it to their nest. In the nest, the beetle larvae feed on both the food of ant brood, as well as of waste and sometimes also of the brood. You build up a shell of feces ( Skatoconche ), which protects them from the ants. Pupation takes place in the ant nest as well instead of being protected by the Kothülle. The young imagos hatch from it only when their exoskeleton has hardened and finally leave the nest. If the animals are attacked, they pretend to be dead ( Thanatose ).