Associations
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Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Melanophila acuminata feeds on scorched bark of Betula
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / associate
Melanophila acuminata is associated with in/under scorched bark of Picea
Plant / associate
Melanophila acuminata is associated with in/under scorched bark of Pinus
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Very common.
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Cyclicity
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June to September.
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Distribution
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The species is found throughout North America, Cuba, Europe and Asia (Bright 1987).
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General Description
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The adults are all black, and may be confused at first glance with Anthaxia inornata. The curved base of the pronotum separates the Melanophila from the Anthaxia and the presence of mesothoracic sensory pits sets M. acuminata apart from all other Alberta buprestids.
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Habitat
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Conifer forests.
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Life Cycle
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Adults can remain alive for periods of up to 4 weeks in the lab if allowed to feed on raisins or peanuts (not their natural food) and given water. This is a most interesting insect. Adults have been reported coming to freshly burned trees, sometimes still smouldering to oviposit. Evans (Ecology 47:1061-1065,1966) demonstrated that these beetles can detect, infrared sources using paired receptors situated on the mesothorax near the coxal cavities and orientate towards the heat source. The structure of these receptors, are figured in Evans and Kuster (Can. Ent. 112:211-216,1980). Adults continue to be attracted to burned trees in the year following a fire.
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Trophic Strategy
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These beetles may use most any conifer for larval development (Bright 1987). In Alberta it has been reared from white spruce and fire killed jack pine.
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Melanophila acuminata
provided by wikipedia EN
Melanophila acuminata, known generally as the black fire beetle or fire bug, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, North America, and Southern Asia.[1][2][3] They get their common name due to the fact that they swarm freshly burned conifer trees, which they find using sensors on their thorax. Adults are black and 7-11 mm in length.[4]
Black fire beetle,
Melanophila acuminata
References
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Melanophila acuminata: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Melanophila acuminata, known generally as the black fire beetle or fire bug, is a species of metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is found in the Caribbean, Europe and Northern Asia (excluding China), Central America, North America, and Southern Asia. They get their common name due to the fact that they swarm freshly burned conifer trees, which they find using sensors on their thorax. Adults are black and 7-11 mm in length.
Black fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata
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Black fire beetle, Melanophila acuminata
