Epomis nigricans

Epomis nigricans is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic. It is known from China, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea.[1]

Adult beetles are metallic copper-green colored, with a striking yellow-orange rim on the elytra and mostly yellow-colored legs and antennae. They are 19.5-22 millimeters in length.[2]

The larvae reach a body length of up to 20 millimeters, they are yellow colored with black markings. Like many ground beetle larvae they are elongated with two extensions (Urogomphi) at the rear end. They have characteristic double-hooked mandibles. The larvae feed exclusively on amphibians,[3][4] which they lure

Epomis nigricans
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Subfamily: Licininae
Tribe: Chlaeniini
Genus: Epomis
Species: E. nigricans
Binomial name
Epomis nigricans
Wiedemann, 1821

by making prey-like movements.[5] The adult beetles are generalist predators, but can also feed on amphibians much larger than themselves.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Chlaenius (Epomis) nigricans Wiedemann, 1821: 110 - Carabidae". carabidae.org. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
  2. 1 2 Toshiaki, H. (2006). Predation by a carabid beetle (Epomis nigricans) on a juvenile frog (Rana nigromaculata). Bulletin of the Herpetological Society of Japan 2: 99-100.
  3. ↑ Shiina, M., and Tachikawa, S. (1988). The life history of Epomis nigricans and its larval stage feeding on toads. Abstracts of the 48th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Japan, p. 35. Nishibaru, Okinawa.
  4. ↑ Tachikawa, S. (1994). Predation on anurans by Epomis nigricans larvae. Amazing Life of Insects, Atlas of the 48th Special Exhibition, Otaru Museum, Otaru.
  5. ↑ Wizen, Gil; Gasith, Avital (2011-09-21). "An Unprecedented Role Reversal: Ground Beetle Larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Lure Amphibians and Prey upon Them". PLoS ONE. 6 (9): e25161. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025161. PMC 3177849Freely accessible. PMID 21957480.
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