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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Blister Beetles (Meloidae) » Meloinae » Lytta » Subgenus Pomphopoea (Lytta Subgenus Pomphopoea) » Lytta aenea
Photo#268592
very small beetles attacking bigger beetle - Lytta aenea
Copyright © 2009 bugsrock

very small beetles attacking bigger beetle - Lytta aenea
Maryville , Blount County, Tennessee, USA
April 23, 2009
Size: big beetle about 1 inch.
I was walking through the woods when I came upon these tiny beetles (maybe 1/8 inch long?) that appeared to be attacking the bigger beetle, which was about an inch long or so, maybe a little less. I would love to know what kinds of beetles both are and if this is normal behavior. Any help would be appreciated.
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Contributed by bugsrock on 23 April, 2009 - 9:07pm
Last updated 24 April, 2009 - 10:09am

Lytta & Pedilus
Yes, the cute little guys (and yes - they ARE guys = males) are Pedilus terminalis (Say). Males of most NA Pedilus (Pyrochroidae: Pedilinae) as well as males of the pyrochroine genera Schizotus and Neopyrochroa are most strongly attracted to cantharidin. We commonly "bait" for these (and several other) taxa using cantharidin-baits in various traps. However, as can obviously be seen, these species also find the "native source" of cantharidin in meloids and some oedemerids.
… Dr. Daniel K. Young, 24 April, 2009 - 10:57am login or register to post comments

 
Wow! thats awesome
I thought it was very intersting to see little beetles all over a big beetle.
… bugsrock, 24 April, 2009 - 12:12pm login or register to post comments

Lytta aenea besieged by Pedilus... ??terminalis
*
… v belov, 24 April, 2009 - 6:27am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Thanks for the info!
… bugsrock, 24 April, 2009 - 7:46am login or register to post comments

 
dear bugsrock--
I have a question about your photos I would like to ask privately. Could you please drop me a word to vmarfus on gmail? Thanks in advance, =v=
… v belov, 16 July, 2009 - 6:51pm login or register to post comments

 
I tried
I sent you messages both with my yahoo mail account and my gmail account. please let me know if you get them. Im not sure if I did it right.
… bugsrock, 16 July, 2009 - 11:20pm login or register to post comments

Cool!
The smaller beetles are in the genus Pedilus, family Pyrochroidae. They crave cantharidin, the defensive secretion of the bigger beetle, a blister beetle in the genus Lytta, family Meloidae. This is not unknown behavior, but not often observed, either.
… Eric R. Eaton, 23 April, 2009 - 10:19pm login or register to post comments

 
thanks!
I thought it was interesting. Ive never heard of this behavior. Where in the guide should I move it too?
… bugsrock, 23 April, 2009 - 10:44pm login or register to post comments

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