| Home | Kingdom Animalia | Phylum Arthropoda | Class Insecta | Order Coleoptera | Suborder Polyphaga | Family Mordellidae | Common Name: Tumbling Flower Beetles |  |
Mordellidae
Tumbling Flower Beetles
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Photo Credit: Peter J.DeVries
Introduction:
These beetles are laterally compressed, humped-backed, and wedge-shaped, thus resembling some melandryids, scraptiids and ripiphorids. Mordellids are easily differentiated by the conspicuously spiniform terminal abdominal tergite.
These beetles are laterally compressed, humped-backed, and wedge-shaped, thus resembling some melandryids, scraptiids and ripiphorids. Mordellids are easily differentiated by the conspicuously spiniform terminal abdominal tergite.
Adult Diagnosis:
antennae short, 11-segmented, antennal insertions concealed
head strongly deflexed
apical maxillary palpomeres often enlarged
prosternalprocess complete
prothoracic coxae conical, projecting below prosternum
metathoracic legs long, metathoracic coxae very large
abdomen with 5 ventrites
pygidium forming a prominent, sharp spiniform process
tarsal formula 5-5-4.
antennae short, 11-segmented, antennal insertions concealed
head strongly deflexed
apical maxillary palpomeres often enlarged
prosternalprocess complete
prothoracic coxae conical, projecting below prosternum
metathoracic legs long, metathoracic coxae very large
abdomen with 5 ventrites
pygidium forming a prominent, sharp spiniform process
tarsal formula 5-5-4.
Ecology:
Adults feed on pollen and are common on flowers. Larvae feed in the pith of plant stems or in decaying wood or fungi.
Adults feed on pollen and are common on flowers. Larvae feed in the pith of plant stems or in decaying wood or fungi.
