Pleasing fungus beetle
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| Cypherotylus asperus Gorham, 1888 |
The pleasing fungus beetle (Cypherotylus asperus), is a part of the most diverse and numerous group of insects, the beetles. The pleasing fungus beetle's bright colours and interesting patterns have made them one of the stand outs of the beetle group; however, these insects' natural habits and characteristics are rarely seen by casual bug watchers. This particular group of beetle feeds primarily on fungus and therefore has spread across the world. While these animals appear in most of the globe's ecosystems, they are primarily found in tropical areas.
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[edit] Physical description
The pleasing fungus beetle is usually recognized by its contrasting orange and black colour (though there are exceptions to this rule). As pictured above, some of these beetles show a bright blue or green colour against the primarily black shell, and some of these beetles are entirely brown or black. In the southeastern United States, most of these beetles are black with a simple red hood; however, a few species in that area are much more elaborately patterned. Since several simaliar beetles share this same colour pattern, other characteristics are needed for a proper identification.
[edit] Biology
As their namesake would imply, pleasing fungus beetles feed on a wide variety of fungi which can supplement the entire family as a whole. Each pleasing fungus beetle species seems to prefer a specific group of fungi. The larval stage of the pleasing fungus beetle does not usually last long. It is not uncommon for an egg to pupate within two weeks. During that time, the slow moving larvae are only found within the fruiting body of mature fungi. Adult beetles are known to stray away from their host fungi. When looking for these beetles during unfavourable living conditions, it is advisable to inspect the underside of the bark of dead or rotting trees as for other beetles (Asian lady beetle); these insects can compress themselves to fit in tiny spaces.
[edit] Pleasing fungus beetles in culture
For the ancient Egyptians, beetles similar to these were worshipped as part of the circle of life. They would associate this beetle's larval existence and adult life with the rising and setting sun (since they would live underground and under bark in their larval stage, and above ground as well as in the air when adult). In fact, the mummies' wrappings signified the bark and mud which larval beetles lived beneath. This act was to prepare the soul for reincarnation to the next world.
[edit] References
- Skelley, Paul E. (June 1999). Pleasing fungus beetles. University of Florida. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.
