Vierfleck juggler
| Vierfleck juggler | ||||||||||||
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Vierfleck juggler ( Hister quadrimaculatus ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Hister quadrimaculatus | ||||||||||||
| Linnaeus , 1758 |
The Vierfleck-Gaukler ( Hister quadrimaculatus ) is a beetle from the family of the Stutzkäfer (Histeridae).
features
Vierfleck jugglers are about an inch long. The basic color of the chitin armor is black, which is partially covered by red spots on the wing covers. The body shape is oval, more rounded than elongated. There is a protruding corner on each side of the pronotum. On the elytra, which are very small so that they leave part of the abdomen uncovered, one can see three fine longitudinal grooves. The legs are relatively short and broadened like a shovel. The large jaws on the head stand out. The antennae are short and thickened at the end like a piston.
Synonyms
- Hister Aethiops Heer , 1841
- Hister cephallenicus Daniel , 1906
- Hister crassimargo Gozis , 1886
- Hister gagates Illiger , 1807
- Hister lunatus Scriba , 1790
- Hister marshami Stephens , 1830
- Hister pelopis Marseul , 1861
- Hister reniformis Olivier , 1789
- Hister scapularis Fischer de Waldheim , 1823
- Hister sinuatus autumn , 1792
Occurrence
The beetles are quite widespread and common, especially in warmer regions. They are mainly found in cow and horse manure .
Way of life
The animals look for insect larvae in excrement, mushrooms and rotting plants to feed on. In the event of danger, they play dead by pulling legs and feelers to their bodies. Despite the short wings, the animals are quite capable of flying. Their life expectancy is several years. After mating, the female lays the eggs in the ground. The larvae live similarly to the beetle and also eat the same food. After several moults, they place a doll's cradle in the ground . The finished beetle hatches from the pupa.
credentials
literature
- Edmund Reitter : Fauna Germanica - The beetles of the German Empire. Volume 2 p. 282, KG Lutz, Stuttgart 1909.
- Edmund Reitter: Fauna Germanica - The beetles of the German Empire. 5 volumes, Stuttgart KG Lutz 1908 - 1916, digital library volume 134, Directmedia Publishing GmbH, Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-898-53534-7 .
Web links
- Photos de Histeridae. Retrieved October 10, 2012 (Collection of Photos).