Desert beetle
| Desert beetle | ||||||||||||
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Desert beetle ( Anthia thoracica ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Anthia thoracica | ||||||||||||
| ( Thunberg , 1784) |
The desert ground beetles ( Anthia thoracica ) belongs to the family of Carabidae and genus of Anthia . As the name suggests, the desert beetle is one of the flightless beetles . He relies on his extreme speed to avoid danger.
description
The desert beetle is a fast, nocturnal, predatory hunter who is equipped with brush-like hairy feet, which are particularly suitable for locomotion on sand. In contrast, the wing-coverts are fused together and the membrane wings under the wing-coverts have completely disappeared, which means that it is unable to fly. The elytra are dark brown to black in color with yellow markings. It is worth mentioning its main chemical defense weapon. If the desert beetle feels threatened, it sprays a jet from the abdomen glands that can cover a distance of up to 35 cm. The jet is a corrosive chemical (such as formic acid ) that causes severe pain to human skin and serious problems if the chemical gets into the eyes . The substance , if the eyes are not treated immediately, leading to temporary blindness. Another well-fortified weapon are the strong, sharp mandibles , which are up to 5 millimeters in length. With these jaws, he can add malicious bite marks. The desert beetle can reach a length of 5 to 6 cm and an age of up to 4 years.
distribution
The main distribution area of the desert beetle is South Africa , it lives mainly in the steppes and semi-deserts .
food
The desert beetle prefers insects such as grasshoppers , fly larvae and their eggs . It is one of the most important meat processors in all terrestrial ecosystems.
Reproduction
The strong jaw claws are not only used for turf and rival fights , but also to hold on to the female during mating . In order to lay eggs, the female crawls into ant nests , where the carnivorous larvae also develop. They mainly feed on ants.
literature
- A. Schmidt: Experimental and field ecological studies on the activity rhythm and microclimatic preference behavior of selected African ground beetle species of the genera Anthia and Thermophilum ( Coleoptera : Carabidae : Anthiini). In: Entomological Journal. Volume 26, No. 1/2, 2001, pp. 53-84.