Dromius quadrimaculatus

Four-spotted - cow runner

The Four-spotted - cow runner, also Vierfleckiger racer or Vierfleckiger racing beetles ( Dromius quadrimaculatus ) is a beetle of the family of beetles.

The scientific name of the genus Dromius AltGr. δρομεύς " dromius " means " runner". The genus Dromius is represented in Europe with fourteen species. The species name quadrimaculatus (Latin for " quadri -" from " quattuor " four, and " maculatus " spotted ) names the four spots on the elytra However, there are several similar species with four spots.

Characteristics of the beetle

The flat, relatively soft beetle is brightly colored and is about five to six millimeters long. Legs and antennae are yellow, red-brown of the pronotum and the anterior part of the head, the rest of the head and the wing-coverts dark brown, two spots on each wing cover yellowish white.

The roundish head ( Fig. 2) is about as long as wide and slightly narrower than the pronotum. The forehead is wrinkled transversely strongly wavy, only to find the next few Längsrunzeln eyes. The eleven-membered threadlike antennae are from the fourth member clearly very fine hairs ( pubeszent ), before the hair is sparse. About the laterally protruding eyes spring from two bristles ( supraorbital bristles). The neck is not cut off abruptly.

The reddish pronotum (Fig. 1) sideways, especially behind the middle, dropped wide trough- shaped. It is a little shorter than the head and considerably narrower than the two elytra together. Its base is slightly curved outwards and slightly narrower than the front edge. It reaches its greatest width after the first quarter. There is close to the side of each one bristle point, each bristle another point sits in the back angles.

The black- brown elytra are approximately rectangular with rounded outer corners. They widen rearwardly little, are truncated at the rear and can be the last portion of the abdomen uncovered. They are streaked with longitudinal rows of dots and have in the sixth interval, but not during the third interval, pore points. On each wing-cover, there are two spots. The transversely oval rear spot ( Apikalmakel ) usually reaches the wing covers seam the entire trailing edge and the rear lateral edge of the elytra. The line of contact with the elytra seam is shorter than the stigma section corresponding to the outer edge of the elytra. Exceptionally, the Apikalmakel flow with the front spots ( Diskalmakel ) together. The Diskalmakel is about the same distance generally along oval and of elytra seam and side wings slab edge, the distance of the flaw to the base of the elytra is greater.

The slender legs are yellow. The stretched tarsi are five-membered. The fourth Tarsenglied is not lobed, the claws are toothed. Outer spines at the end of the front rails are missing.

Biology

Larvae and adults, where known, are predators. In particular, are of the larvae but very few observations before, the species is distinguishable in the larval stage hardly of related species. Both imagines as well as larvae are almost exclusively observed living on the bark of tree trunks trees. Case of observations with several methods within forest areas few or no individuals were detected in pitfall traps, although the nature of the area was frequently, so they are obviously almost never run actively to find on the soil surface. In contrast, there are numerous observations in flight, or evidence from window traps before. The species is nocturnal and watching at night when the lights Able trunk surface directly. The species overwinters as Imago. Reproduction takes place in the spring. Adult beetles can be observed throughout the year, they are active during winter in frost-free periods. During the day and in periods of frost she crawls into beef columns. You also accept artificial hiding here if they provide gaps or cracks. The species is found in forests as well as on isolated trees, on avenues and rows of trees.

The species prefers clear deciduous trees over conifers and hardwood bark on one of the commonest species of the genus. There are but isolated observations of conifers, especially pine, before, where the species but far less than some relatives. Often documents are mainly of oak species, besides also of ash and sycamore. Most proofs are from the base of the trunk or from the lower stem region, but this is probably mainly due to methodological (accessibility ). In Benebelungen of oak crowns with insecticides, the species was very commonly found in the canopy, but preferred in an English study here the areas close to the trunk. Even in a floodplain forest near Leipzig, the style was frequently detected in the canopy of trees in window traps in twenty to twenty-six meters in height.

Dissemination

The distribution area extends across most of Europe and continues to Asia. In Europe, only messages are missing from Portugal, Romania, Croatia, Albania and European Turkey. Individual distribution maps can be found at the links.