Two-tone mallow shrew
| Two-tone mallow shrew | ||||||||||||
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Two-colored mallow shrews on the flower base of wild mallow |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Malvapion malvae | ||||||||||||
| ( Fabricius , 1775) |
The two-colored mallow shrew ( Malvapion malvae ) is a beetle from the subfamily Apioninae within the long beetles (Brentidae).
features
The more or less dense whitish hairy two-colored mallow shrew is about 1.8 to 2.4 millimeters long. The coloring of the non-toothed elytra is typical . Except for the shoulders and a roughly triangular black spot at the base that extends back over the label , they are yellow-red to ocher-brown in color. Usually a more or less wide black seam strip is formed. There are no teeth on the basal edge of the pronotum. The head, proboscis and pronotum are colored black, with the tip of the proboscis being a little lighter at times. The indistinctly kneeled antennae do not have a long shaft link and, like the legs, are red-brown to yellow-red. The head, pronotum and base of the wing cover show strong, in some places also compacted, white scaly hair. The rest of the body is covered with fine white hair.
Way of life
The two-colored mallow shrew lives on various plants from the mallow family (Malvaceae). It is predominantly found on representatives of the genera mallow ( Malva ) and hollyhock ( Alcea ). The species has also been detected on marshmallow ( Althaea ) and shrub poplars ( Lavatera ). The females lay their eggs in the ovary of the respective host plant, where the larvae also develop. The larvae feed on the seeds. The pupation occurs in the seeds. After the short rest of the pupae has ended, the beetles hatch and burrow outside. The leaves of the host plant serve as food. The beetle can be detected from April to September.
distribution
The species is common in the Palearctic region with the exception of Northern Europe.
In Germany it is particularly common in the south and west. In the east there are no current finds. The frequency of occurrence is increasing significantly. The two-colored mallow shrew is a warmth-loving species. It is preferred to be found on roadsides, ruderal areas , borders and in gardens.
Systematics
The two-colored mallow shrew was first described by Johann Christian Fabricius in 1775 . The term Apion malvae (Fabricius, 1775) is considered a synonym .
swell
- Nature walk: Malvapion malvae / two-colored mallow shrew
- The beetle fauna of southwest Germany - ARGE SWD Koleopterologen
- Christoph Benisch: The beetle fauna of Germany
Individual evidence
- ↑ Dr. Arved Lompe: European beetles - subfamily Apioninae , an identification work on the Internet, published by Arved Lompe, Nienburg / Weser, founded in September 2002
- ↑ Dr. Arved Lompe: Beetles of Europe - Malvapion , an identification work on the Internet, published by Arved Lompe, Nienburg / Weser, founded in September 2002
- ↑ a b c The beetle fauna of Southwest Germany - ARGE SWD Koleopterologen
- ↑ a b Nature walk: Malvapion malvae / two-colored mallow shrew