chequered click beetle
species of family “Click Beetles“
1 species
Prosternon tessellatum beetles are found in Europe, Asia, and the Nearctic realm, living in various habitats like mountain areas, forests, heathlands, and gardens. They are about 10-12 millimeters long with blackish-brown pronotum and striped elytra. These beetles are similar to Agrypnus murinus but larger in size. Adults are active from May to early August, feeding on flowers and vegetation, while their larvae live in conifer tree stumps and humus, preying on cocoons of insects like pine-tree lappet and pine sawfly.
Distribution#
This species is widespread in Europe, in Asia, and in the Nearctic realm.
Habitat#
These beetles inhabit mountain areas, coniferous forests, dry forest edges and forest meadows, but also heathland, moors, dunes and gardens.
Description#
Prosternon tessellatum can reach a body length of approximately 10–12 millimetres (0.39–0.47 in). These beetles have a hairiness blackish-brown pronotum and striped elytra, with paler silk-hairy gray-yellow to gold-shining stains. They are rather similar to Agrypnus murinus, that is smaller.
Biology#
Adults can be found from May to early August, feeding on flowers, shrubs and low vegetation. Larvae of this species live in tree stumps of conifers and in humus. They are predators and destroy cocoons of pine-tree lappet (Dendrolimus pini) and pine sawfly (Neodiprion).
== References ==
Prosternon tessellatum beetles are found in Europe, Asia, and the Nearctic realm, living in various habitats like mountain areas, forests, heathlands, and gardens. They are about 10-12 millimeters long with blackish-brown pronotum and striped elytra. These beetles are similar to Agrypnus murinus but larger in size. Adults are active from May to early August, feeding on flowers and vegetation, while their larvae live in conifer tree stumps and humus, preying on cocoons of insects like pine-tree lappet and pine sawfly.
Ancestry Graph
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