Scale Picnic Beetle

Cybocephalus cf. nipponicus

Description:

Tiny and shiny dark brown beetle, about 2-3mm. Cybocephalus nipponicus (Endrödy-Younga, 1971) (Coleoptera: family Nitidulidae) is called the Scale Picnic Beetle. Cybocephalus is a genus of a minute predatory beetle, usually placed in the Nitidulidae as a subfamily, Cybocephalinae, but which resemble tiny Coccinellidae in having a convex body form with elytra extending to near the end of the abdomen. The Cybocephalus species are predators of scale insects (principally Diaspididae) and whiteflies and are utilized occasionally in biological control programs. http://wiki.bugwood.org/Cybocephalus_nip..., http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/research-....

Habitat:

Spotted on a lemongrass leaf, garden in Biñan Laguna, Philippines.

Notes:

Classification: Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Cucujoidea » Sap-feeding Beetles (Nitidulidae) » Cybocephalinae » Cybocephalus » Cybocephalus nipponicus. http://bugguide.net/node/view/251834. My spotting also looks a lot like Shining Flower Beetles (Phalacridae) » Olibrus, http://bugguide.net/node/view/725598/bgi.... However, I could not find any literature of Olibrus' distribution in my region. I also first IDd this as Minute Hooded Beetle (family Corylophidae, genus Holopsis), http://bugguide.net/node/view/37509/bgim..., but could not find anything in the net reported in my region.

Species ID Suggestions

9 Comments

AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

I very much want that you are right Adi :):):) Thanks!

Adarsha B S 11 years ago

Yeah yeah...You are right...Basically color is not much of matter if we get structure right na? So why i too not IDied...Just posted a comment....Not found brown one's in net (Phillipines)...So ur spotting s almost a new member to this family :)

AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

You are right Adi, that's why I only IDd this as Cybocephalus cf. nipponicus. From the literature in the net, this genus is blackish. I first IDd this actually as Minute Hooded Beetle (family Corylophidae, genus Holopsis), but had to change to generic Beetle when I could not find anything about its distribution in the Philippines or my region.

Adarsha B S 11 years ago

You r welcome :)
Actually i checked nipponicus in this site earlier..But felt color difference!
http://wiki.bugwood.org/Cybocephalus_nip...

AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

Thanks Adi. Cybocephalus nipponicus is the one reported in Thailand. In the Philippines, the report mentioned only Cybocephalus sp. The Cybocephalus spp are predators of scale insects (principally Diaspididae) and whiteflies.

Adarsha B S 11 years ago

Yeah..Near phillipines, may be urs is first one!

AgnesAdiqueTalavera 11 years ago

Thanks Adi! I think you got it! I just have to check the counterpart Cybocephalus existing in the Philippines. I've almost forgotten about this tiny fellow. :)