Family: Anthicidae (ant beetles)
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda
> Insecta
(insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola >
Holometabola > Coleoptera
(beetles)
> Polyphaga > Cucujoidea
These beetles are called ant beetles as
they look like ants. They are small (2-10mm) and look like diminutive
Carabidae. The larvae are scavengers and
also eat insect eggs. Anthicus feed on larvae of
Meloidae (blister beetles) that contain a
poisonous substance called cantharidin, a type of terpenoid.
Publications
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van Hille, J. C. 1984. Monograph of Aulacoderus La
Ferté, subgenus of Anthicus Paykul, Anthicidae - Coleoptera. Annals
of the Cape Provincial Museum 15(1):1-171.
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