Mordellinae

Mordellinae
Mordella aculeata; note the "pintail"
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
Family: Mordellidae
Subfamily: Mordellinae
Latreille, 1802

Mordellidae is a subfamily of beetles commonly known as tumbling flower beetles for the typical irregular movements they make when escaping predators, or as pintail beetles due to their abdominal tip which aids them in performing these tumbling movements.[1]

Tribe & Genera

References

  1. Mordellidae Species List at Joel Hallan’s Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University. Retrieved on 22 March 2013.
  2. Horák, Jan; Farkac, Jan; Nakládal, Oto (2012). "Mordellidae (Coleoptera) from Socotra Island". Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae (Musei Nationalis Pragae) 52 ((supplementum 2)): 253–268. ISSN 0374-1036. Retrieved 5 February 2013.