Anthia sexmaculata

Anthia sexmaculata, common name Egyptian predator beetle, is a species of beetles of the family Carabidae.

Anthia sexmaculata
Museum specimen of Anthia sexmaculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Carabidae
Subfamily:
Anthiinae
Genus:
Anthia
Subgenus:
Termophilum
Species:
A. sexmaculata
Binomial name
Anthia sexmaculata
(Fabricius, 1787)
Synonyms
  • Anthia pharaonum Bedel, 1914
  • Thermophilum sexmaculatum

Subspecies

Subspecies include: [1]

  • Anthia sexmaculata marginata Latreille, 1823
  • Anthia sexmaculata sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1787)

Description
A live individual of Anthia sexmaculata

Anthia sexmaculata can reach a length of 40 millimetres (1.6 in). Body is black with whitish markings. Incongruously this species has not six markings (hence the Latin name sexmaculata), but it has about 14 pale markings on its body, but the number can vary. [2]

Behavior

These beetles have an unusual life cycle; young larvae enter ants' nests and remain there feeding on the ants and their larvae. They soon assume the scent of their ant hosts and are accepted as members of the colony. They move about with their bodies lifted high up off the ground to avoid the heat of the substrate. Their mandibles, although large, are not strong enough for defence. Instead, they squirt an acrid fluid from the anus to disable their enemies. This defence strategy has earned them the popular name of 'oogenpisser' i.e. 'eye-squirter' [3](in French). Their large eyes, mandibles and speed of movement are similar to those of tiger beetles, but these beetles are flightless. They feed on other insects.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species, originating in India,[4] is distributed widely along the northern states of Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia), from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. [1] It is characteristic of desert regions.

References
  1. Biolib
  2. Carabidae of the World, Beetles of Africa, Coleop-terra 86.164.94.167
  3. Éric Geirnaert, « Le Carabe d'ATAR bombardier du désert »
  4. "Database Carabidae of the World". Archived from the original on 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
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