Metriolagria formicicola

Darkling beetle at Majura, ACT

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Identification history

Metriolagria formicicola	3 Feb 2017	KimPullen
Metriolagria formicicola	3 Feb 2017	KimPullen
Ecnolagria grandis	3 Feb 2017	HarveyPerkins

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5 comments

KimPullen wrote:

4 Feb 2017

Compared to Ecnolagria grandis, Metriolagria formicicola has a narrower and darker body, with a metallic sheen.

HarveyPerkins wrote:

4 Feb 2017

Thanks Kim. Last time I looked I thought these were all just Lagria in their own family, Lagriidae! Was a while ago.

HarveyPerkins wrote:

4 Feb 2017

So Kim, here's (2nd photo) the same individual but with a couple of Iridomyrmex, but they certainly didn't seem to get along very well!

KimPullen wrote:

4 Feb 2017

I don't know what's behind the 'formicicola' name, Harvey. I haven't noticed them being fond of ants, or ants of them. As for 'Lagriidae' vs Tenebrionidae, they were separate for more than a century until someone found that larvae of the former were practically indistinguishable from those of Australian Adelium, which have always been considered Tenebrionidae. Then they had a good look at the adults and found they weren't too different either!

HarveyPerkins wrote:

4 Feb 2017

Thanks Kim - the history and nomenclature of these things can sometimes be as interesting as the insects themselves.

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