Species Details
Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NameBlack Fire Beetle or Fire Bugs
SeasonalityJune to September.
IdentificationThe adults are all black, and may be confused at first glance with Anthaxia inornata. The curved base of the pronotum separates the Melanophila from the Anthaxia and the presence of mesothoracic sensory pits sets M. acuminata apart from all other Alberta buprestids.
Scientific Name
Melanophila acuminata
Common Name
Black Fire Beetle or Fire Bugs
Habitat
Conifer forests.
Seasonality
June to September.
Identification
The adults are all black, and may be confused at first glance with Anthaxia inornata. The curved base of the pronotum separates the Melanophila from the Anthaxia and the presence of mesothoracic sensory pits sets M.…
The adults are all black, and may be confused at first glance with Anthaxia inornata. The curved base of the pronotum separates the Melanophila from the Anthaxia and the presence of mesothoracic sensory pits sets M. acuminata apart from all other Alberta buprestids.
Life History
Adults can remain alive for periods of up to 4 weeks in the lab if allowed to feed on raisins or peanuts (not their natural food) and given water. This is a most interesting insect. Adults have been reported coming…
Adults can remain alive for periods of up to 4 weeks in the lab if allowed to feed on raisins or peanuts (not their natural food) and given water. This is a most interesting insect. Adults have been reported coming to freshly burned trees, sometimes still smouldering to oviposit. Evans (Ecology 47:1061-1065,1966) demonstrated that these beetles can detect, infrared sources using paired receptors situated on the mesothorax near the coxal cavities and orientate towards the heat source. The structure of these receptors, are figured in Evans and Kuster (Can. Ent. 112:211-216,1980). Adults continue to be attracted to burned trees in the year following a fire.
Conservation
Very common.
Diet Info
These beetles may use most any conifer for larval development (Bright 1987). In Alberta it has been reared from white spruce and fire killed jack pine.
Range
The species is found throughout North America, Cuba, Europe and Asia (Bright 1987).
Citation
Page Citation for Melanophila acuminata
Page Citation
"Species Details - Melanophila acuminata, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-3005. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
References
Author
Evans, W. G.
Title
Perception of Infrared Radiation from Forest Fires by Melanophila acuminata de Geer (Buprestidae, Coleoptera).
Publication Date
1966
Series Title
Ecology
Volume
47
Pages
1061-1065
Author
Evans, W. G., and J. E. Kuster
Title
The infrared receptive fields of Melanophila acuminata (Coleoptera: Buprestidae).
Publication Date
1980
Series Title
The Canadian Entomologist
Volume
112
Pages
211-216
Author
Bright, D. E.
Title
The Metallic Wood-boring Beetles of Canada and Alaska. Coleoptera: Buprestidae.
Publication Date
1987
Pages
335
Specimen Information
There are 22 specimens of this Species.
UASM23152 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mercoal
Collected ByBrowett, R.
Date Collected1957-07
UASM23153 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByStrickland, Edgar H.
Date Collected1928-07
UASM23156 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Banff National Park, Banff
Collected ByWallis, J. B.
Date Collected1912-08-20
UASM23158 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Fort Fitzgerald
Date Collected1931-09-01
UASM23160 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1967-07-20
UASM23164 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByStrickland, Edgar H.
Date Collected1932-06-06
UASM23165 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Date Collected1967-07-20
UASM23168 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Slave Lake
Collected ByBall, G. E.; Hocking, Martin B.
Date Collected1957-09-03/1957-09-04
UASM23169 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByO'Hara, J. E.
Date Collected1978-09-02
UASM23170 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByMorrison, F. O.
Date Collected1937-09-07
UASM23172 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByMorrison, F. O.
Date Collected1937-09-07
UASM23174 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByMorrison, F. O.
Date Collected1937-09-07
UASM23180 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mercoal
Collected ByBrowett, R.
Date Collected1957-07
UASM23181 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mercoal
Collected ByBrowett, R.
Date Collected1957-07
UASM23182 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mercoal
Collected ByBrowett, R.
Date Collected1957-07
UASM23193 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mercoal
Collected ByBrowett, R.
Date Collected1957-07
UASM23555 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByStrickland, Edgar H.
Date Collected1923-08-19
UASM23556 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1914-07-15
UASM102995 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park, Gardiner Lakes
Collected ByHilchie, G. J.; Macaulay, D.; Macaulay, S.
Date Collected2004-07-09
UASM134497 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Swift Creek
Collected ByHilchie, G. J.; Hilchie, J. S.
Date Collected2007-06-27
UASM134498 - Melanophila acuminata
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Beaverdam Creek
Collected ByHilchie, G. J.; Macaulay, D.
Date Collected2007-07-17