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Carphurus sp
A long beetle about 10 mm long with a black head, red thorax and a black and red abdomen. Wings were short covering the first two abdominal segments. Antennae were about a third of the body length.
Spotted on a eucalyptus tree
It is reported that most melyrids are omnivores, feeding on small arthropods and pollen. The aposematic colours of the genus Carphurus indicate that this beetle is poisonous. Family:Melyridae
Spotted on Dec 6, 2013
Submitted on Dec 19, 2013
2 Comments
Yes, Maria. The elytra are short in beetles in this family making them look like Rove Beetles. But they are not related.
Are the wings normally so short? That seems rather unusual. Interesting spotting.