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).
Melanophila acuminata
Melanophila acuminata

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 04 May. 2024.

Authorship

Name Hilchie, Gerald J.
Role species page author
Date 2003

References

Specimen Information

There are 22 specimens of this Species.

22 results plotted on map in 9 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM134499 - Melanophila acuminata

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Willmore Wilderness Park, Sheep Creek Collected ByHilchie, G. J.; Macaulay, D. Date Collected2007-07-12/2007-07-20

Adult Seasonal Distribution