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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Antlike Flower Beetles (Anthicidae) » Monoceros Beetles (Notoxinae) » Notoxus » Notoxus subtilis
Photo#1088290
beetles - Notoxus subtilis
Copyright © 2015 eileen miller

beetles - Notoxus subtilis
gravel pit area north of Grant Park, Sac County, Iowa, USA
June 18, 2015
I know I should not put 2 beetle species together, but their behavior was very interesting. The ant-like flower beetle (Notoxus) kept running about on the common milkweed leaf and 'banging' into (?attacking) the other beetle (?Coccinellidae). This happened over and over. The Coccinellid beetle did not visibly react.
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Contributed by eileen miller on 21 June, 2015 - 9:02pm
Last updated 22 June, 2015 - 8:50am

cool, our very first live pic of this one!
Moved from ID Request.
… v belov, 22 June, 2015 - 8:50am login or register to post comments

Notoxus subtilis
Not the best angle, but really only one species from Iowa with this color pattern. I have no idea why it was hassling the coccinellid. They do go after meloids for their cantharidin, and coccinellids are loaded with nasty chemicals (hence their warning coloration), but not cantharidin to the best of my knowledge.
… Donald S. Chandler, 22 June, 2015 - 8:47am login or register to post comments

 
Notoxus subtilis behavior
Thanks for the comments. Maybe it does have something to do with getting some nasty chemicals on board.
… eileen miller, 22 June, 2015 - 9:10am login or register to post comments

 
more likely random chance encounter
I don't think there is anything significant here
… Blaine Mathison, 22 June, 2015 - 3:13pm login or register to post comments

very intriguing indeed
terrific observation, thanks for posting
hope Dr Chandler comments on Notoxus' behavior
… v belov, 22 June, 2015 - 12:27am login or register to post comments

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