Transition from bamboo sap to water: aquatic habits in the sap beetle amphicrossus japonicus (Coleoptera : Cucujoidea : Nitidulidae)
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2007
Abstract
Amphicrossus japonicus is the first known facultatively aquatic nitidulid. The adult beetles breed in bamboo sap and subsequently enter water-filled bamboo culms. In water they breathe via a ventral air sheath held by hydrofuge pubescence. The beetles are facultative predators and hunt mosquito larvae, which they grab with their forelegs. The trend to facultative predation in Cucujoidea and the transition for beetles in general from semi-liquid decaying organic matter into water is discussed.
Keywords
Nitidulidae, Amphicrossus, Aquatic beetles, Culicidae, Bamboo, Tree sap, Phytotelrn, Hydrofuge hairs, Oriental region, Malaysia, Thailand
Divisions
InstituteofBiologicalSciences
Publication Title
European Journal of Entomology
Volume
104
Issue
3
Additional Information
Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA