Beetle jewel beetle

Beetle jewel beetle
Beetle jewel beetle ( Agrilus viridis ) on willow leaf
Systematics
Order : Beetle (Coleoptera) Subordination : Polyphaga Family : Jewel beetle (Buprestidae) Subfamily : Agrilinae Genre : Agrilus Type : Beetle jewel beetle
Scientific name
Agrilus viridis
( Linnaeus , 1758)

Fig. 1: Different views
	Fig. 2: Crown, puncture faded longitudinally wrinkled
Fig. 3: Head from the front, position of the lower edge of the eye and deflection of the antennae	Fig. 4: Head and neck shield from diagonally above, arrowhead on keel
Fig. 5: pronotum green: keel; yellow: connection of the pronotum to the wing covers ocher / white: keel and groove of the label	Fig. 6: Head and chest section from below orange: chin process green: prosternal process ocher: rear breast
Fig. 7: Claws in the ♀ (left) and ♂ (right) Pro: front, meso: middle, meta: hind leg
	Fig. 8: Hind leg from below, arrowhead on the outer rear edge
Fig. 9: Tip of the left wing cover	Fig. 10: Fifth abdominal sternite

The book borer ( Agrilus viridis ) is a beetle from the family of jewel beetles (Buprestidae). The six to nine millimeters long, shiny metallic beetle is not easy to identify because it has different variants in color, size and hairiness that are similar to other species of the genus Agrilus . The genus Agrilus is represented in Europe with about 72 species and the beetle beetle belongs to the Agrilus viridis complex. The extent to which this group of forms has to be broken down into ecological races, subspecies or as independent species has not yet been clarified. Coleonet is of the opinion that the form found on beeches is a separate species Agrilus fagi , as is Agrilus nocivus , the other forms described under their own name, however, only as variants.

In contrast to almost all jewel beetle species, the beetle beetle is not specially protected by law according to the Federal Species Protection Ordinance. He is also not on any red list.

Taxonomy and Etymology

The beetle beetle was first described in 1758 by Linnaeus under the scientific name Buprestis viridis . The description contains the formulation corpore viridi elongato ( Latin for green elongated body). This explains the species name viridis (Latin: green).

The genus Agrilus was established by the Englishman Curtis in 1825. He takes the name from Megerle. The explanation of the generic name Agrīlus is uncertain. Sigmund Schenkling provides his explanation (from ancient Greek άγρα ágra, hunting, prey, and είλω ēīlo, to gather) with a question mark. A reference to properties of the species of the genus is not discernible.

description

The description applies to the whole group of forms Agrilus viridis . Given the great similarity of the species, many characteristics are required for reliable identification.

The beetle becomes five to ten millimeters long. The males are usually monochrome, green, olive or blue with a metallic sheen. The females are usually two-colored, the elytra like the males blue or green, the head, breast shield and underside brass-colored to red-gold (taxobild). The hairs of the beetles are very short and inconspicuous, so that they appear hairless (best recognizable in Fig. 9 on the edge of the wing cover), in some animals, however, a fine, light hair is formed along the wing cover seam in the rear area.

As in all species of the genus, the head is short, about three times as wide as it is long when viewed from above. The eyes are large and cover almost the entire side of the head. Its rear edge runs parallel to the front edge of the pronotum (narrow cheeks) at a small distance . The eleven-limbed antennae are widened inwards (sawed) from the fourth limb and are turned in a little higher than the lower edge of the eyes (Fig. 3). The crown of the jewel beetle is slightly arched, the forehead is flat and indistinctly furrowed. The head is punctured with wrinkles , and the puncture is wrinkled lengthways on the forehead and top of the head (Fig. 2).

The neck plate supports a "double" side edge, as in all species of the genus. The keel-like elevation below the actual lateral edge runs too closely next to the base of the pronotum; the two edges move away from each other towards the front. The keel-like raised fold in the rear corner of the pronotum is curved in the jeweled beetle and not very pronounced (green arrow in Fig. 4 and green in Fig. 5). Seen from above, the pronotum is rounded, at its widest point twice as wide as it is long. It narrows in a straight line towards the base, so the rear corners are not extended. The oblique lateral impressions of the pronotum are not very pronounced. The bulges on the sides of the base, into which the bases of the wing covers are fitted, are angled and not round (Fig. 5, yellow). The pronotum is wavy, cross-wrinkled and has an indistinct central furrow.

The tag is triangular as in the other species of the genus, and taper to a point and has a cross keel (Fig. 5, ocher). In beetles , the beetle has a distinctive transverse keel and is accompanied by a transverse groove (Fig. 5, ocher) to the rear.

The elytra each end with a rounded and finely serrated edge. At the base they each have a rounded impression, at the side a sharp bulging shoulder corner. In the middle area they are slightly outlined inwards and leave part of the back of the body uncovered at the sides. Then they taper evenly, but the outer edge of the wing covers more so that it disappears under the wing outline when viewed from above. In front of the tip, however, especially in the females, it is ragged and also limits the wing cover when viewed from above. The wing covers are slightly indented along the seam so that the seam appears to be raised in the rear area.

The chin extension of the front chest is well developed, its front edge in the middle only flat, not incised at an angle (Fig. 6, orange). The fore-chest is greatly elongated to the rear (Prosternal process, Fig. 6, green). The prosternal process runs parallel between the spherical front hips and is not restricted by the front hips. Then it tapers in the form of a pointed triangle. It bridges the middle breast so that it appears divided. The tip of the prosternal process fits into a bulge in the rear breast (Fig. 6, ocher). The rear hips lie broadly against the rear chest and are greatly broadened outwards. They are hollowed out inside to partially accommodate the hind legs. The tarsi are all five-limbed (tarsal formula 5-5-5), the first tarsal limb of the hind leg is about as long as the following three tarsal limbs combined. The claws on the last phalanx have a tooth at the base that is short, wide and blunt in females (Fig. 7 left). There are different types of claws for the males. In the form of Agrilus viridis , the teeth of the claws of the hind legs are built like those of the females (Fig. 7 right meta). The teeth of the claws on the front legs, on the other hand, are long and pointed and simulate split claws (Fig. 7 right, Pro). On the middle pair of legs, the teeth are formed on the outer claw as on the hind legs, those on the inner claw as on the front legs (Fig. 7 Meso). In contrast to Agrilus suvorovi , the outer rear edges of the middle and hind legs are not toothed (Fig. 8).

Of the five sections on the underside of the abdomen (sternite), the first two are fused and form the widest and longest visible abdomen in Agrilus. The following sternites narrow in a straight line, the last one is rounded in the form of a circular section and has an edge furrow. In the jeweled beetle, this is not outwardly outward.

The underside is also very sparsely and evenly haired. In Figure 10 the hair can be clearly seen. On the last visible abdominal segment (5th abdominal sternite) there is a simple, clearly visible marginal furrow that is not indented at the back (Fig. 10).

biology

The species lives in deciduous forests, where it can also be found on the edge of the forest and in clearings. It can also be found in parks and orchards. The beetles sit on bushes or different trees. The larvae develop in damaged hardwood, especially willow , birch , beech , but also alder , hornbeam , hazel , maple , chestnut and linden , but not oak . The trunk shape develops in willows, the fagi shape in beeches.

distribution

The species is native to Central Europe , Russia , Asia Minor and North Africa.

literature

• Fritz Brechtel, Hans Kostenbader (ed.): The splendor and stag beetles of Baden-Württemberg. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2002. ISBN 3-8001-3526-4
• Heinz Joy, Karl Wilhelm Harde, Gustav Adolf Lohse: The beetles of Central Europe . tape 6 : Diversicornia . Spectrum, Heidelberg 1979, ISBN 3-87263-027-X .
• Gustav Jäger (Ed.): CG Calwer 's Käferbuch . K. Thienemanns, Stuttgart 1876, 3rd edition
• Klaus Koch : The Beetles of Central Europe Ecology . 1st edition. tape 2 . Goecke & Evers, Krefeld 1989, ISBN 3-87263-040-7 , pp. 104 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Agrilus at Coleonet , accessed on July 6, 2020
2. ↑ Fritz Brechtel, Hans Kostenbader (ed.): The splendor and stag beetles of Baden-Württemberg . Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3526-4 .
3. ↑ Red lists at BioNetworkX
4. ↑ C.Linnaeus: Systema Naturae per Regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata Stockholm 1758 first description page 414: 410 no.18
5. ↑ Sigmund Schenkling: Nomenclator coleopterologus 2nd edition Jena 1922 Explanation of the scientific beetle names (species) in short form
6. ^ John Curtis: British Entomology ... The Genera of Insects ... Vol. II Coleoptera Part II, London 1823–1840 AGRILUS CHRYSEIS Description of the genus Agrilus in text on Plate [50] corresponds to plate [67]
7. ↑ Sigmund Schenkling: Nomenclator coleopterologus 2nd edition Jena 1922 Explanation of the scientific beetle names (genus) in short form

Web links

Commons : Beetle Beetle ( Agrilus viridis )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

• Agrilus viridis - Beetle Beetle ( Memento from July 19, 2008 in the Internet Archive )