Pythidae

Pytho depressus

The dragon beetle ( Pythidae ) are a family of beetles ( Coleoptera) dar.

Features

The beetles reach a body length of 7-17 mm where there are large differences in length within species. The bodies are dark and have a metallic luster. The body is flattened, with the elytra are widened slightly to the rear. The 11- membered antennas are thread -shaped and ends in a light Endkeule. The head is large and tapers behind the eyes. The pronotum is heart- shaped and provided with large oblong impressions.

Way of life

The representatives of the dragon beetles feed on wood and are found in coniferous forests. The females lay their eggs in small groups with an ovipositor under the bark. The plates and elongated larvae live under the bark and feed on decaying plant parts, wood flour and other cattle excrement residents. The larvae develop for several years and eventually pupate under the bark in an oval, glued together from chips and sludge chamber. The finished beetles hatch in autumn and winter in the dolls chamber.

System

The formerly classified here in this group Scheinrüssler ( Salpingidae ) and Haarscheinrüssler ( Mycteridae ) now make up their own families while Europe, the family of dragons beetle is represented by two genera and five species. In Central Europe, there are two species in the British Isles is just a kind home. The genus Osphyoplesius assigned by Reitter originally the tribe Osphyoplesiini ( subfamily Borinae, Family Tenebrionidae ). The current classification in the Pythidae family is currently considered not saved ( incertae sedis ).

Family Pythidae

Genus Osphyoplesius

• Osphyoplesius Anophthalmos Winkler, 1915
• Osphyoplesius loeblis Español, 1975

Genus Pyto

• Pytho abieticola J. Sahlberg, 1875
• Pytho depressus Linnaeus, 1767
• Pytho kolwensis C. Sahlberg, 1833