Merimna atrata
2 Merimna atrata at Pialligo, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Merimna atrata | MichaelMulvaney | 24 Jun 2021 | |
| Merimna atrata | KimPullen | 23 Nov 2020 | |
| Unverified | FeralGhostbat | 22 Nov 2020 |
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Significant sighting
User's notes
Found on east facing wall at work at Canberra Airport
2 comments
24 Jun 2021
The following is an extract from the WA Museum web site. "The Australian 'fire-beetle' Merimna atrata can be found in large numbers directly after a fire in eucalyptus forests in the smoky burnt area. The main reasons for this so-called pyrophilous behaviour are reproduction and foraging. Beetles of both sexes are most probably attracted by the smell of burning eucalyptus trees and invade a freshly burnt area as early as possible. Nearly the entire cycle of reproduction, including mate finding, copulation and oviposition takes place, and the beetles are most likely protected from predators by heat and smoke. This is possible because M. atrata has developed special infrared receptors on the abdomen which serve for the detection of hot spots. As the burnt area gets cooler and the smell of burning declines, beetles disappear within about 3 days. "
Location information
- Coordinates 149.182581-35.300888
- Places Pialligo, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 19 Nov 2020 07:39 PM Recorded on
- FeralGhostbat Recorded by
- 5mm to 12mm Animal size
Collections
- Significant Insects Jewel beetles (Buprestidae) Beetles (Coleoptera) FeralGhostbat Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Merimna atrata
Species information
- Merimna atrata Scientific name
- Merimna atrata Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- Verified by an expert moderator
- Description
- Additional attributes
- More than one media file
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- GPS evidence of location