Genus Lycus

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Head & pronutum (and mites!) - Lycus sanguineus

Yellow/black netwings - Lycus arizonensis - male - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles)

Family Lycidae (Net-winged Beetles)

Genus Lycus

Numbers

There are 11 species of Lycus north of Mexico from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas (1)

Identification

White (1983) suggests that Lycid beaks are unique to this genus, but I don't find this obvious feature similarly referenced in other beetle literature... (2)

Range

Members of the Lycus genus ranging north of Mexico occur across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas (1)

Habitat

Lycus larvae may be seen moving over open ground in the early evening. (1)

Food

Adult lycids eat nectar and honeydew. (1)

Despite anecdotal accounts that Lycid larvae are carnivores, probably most, if not all, feed on myxomycetes or metabolic products of fungi (Lawrence 1982).

Remarks

Numerous Lycid species aggregate in one or their life stages (1)

Print References

Lawrence, J.F. 1982. Coleoptera. pp. 482-553 In: Parker, S.P. (editor) Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms, Volume 2. McGraw Hill. New York, NY.

Internet References

Texas Beetle Information

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

2.	Peterson Field Guides: Beetles By Richard E. White

Contributed by Jim McClarin on 2 March, 2006 - 7:58pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 4 September, 2006 - 1:50pm

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