Cucujus is a genus of beetles in the family Cucujidae, the flat bark beetles. It contains 19 currently recognized species and subspecies.[1][2][3][4]

Cucujus
Cucujus coccinatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Cucujidae
Genus: Cucujus
Fabricius, 1775

Description edit

Species of Cucujus are of moderate size (6-25mm), greatly dorso-ventrally compressed, and brightly colored, often red or red and black. Additionally, they can be distinguished from other members of the family by the head being generally wider than the pronotum with prominent temples, and the elongate, inverted male genitalia with a flagellum.[5] The genus occurs throughout the Holarctic region, with indigenous species in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is most diverse in Asia.[3]

Ecology edit

The biology of most species in the genus is poorly known. All life stages live under dead bark, where they apparently are predacious.[6] Larvae also are dorso-ventrally compressed. Cucujus clavipes puniceus, which occurs in western North America, has been the subject of considerable research interest due to its ability to produce natural antifreeze compounds.[7][8]

Species edit

References edit

  1. ^ Lee, C.; Pütz, A. "A new species of Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 from China and key to the east-Palaearctic species of the genus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)". Entomologische Zeitschrift. 118 (5): 211–213. ISSN 0013-8843.
  2. ^ Lee, C.; Satô, M. (2007). "A review of the genus Cucujus Fabricius (Insecta: Cucujoidea: Cucujidae) from Taiwan, Japan, and China, with descriptions of two new species and the larvae of Cucujus mniszechi Grouvelle" (PDF). Zoological Studies (46): 311–321. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-08-09. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
  3. ^ a b Bonacci, Teresa; Mazzei, Antonio; Horak, Jakub; Brandmayr, Pietro (2012-07-30). "Cucujus tulliae sp. n. – an endemic Mediterranean saproxylic beetle from genus Cucujus Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera, Cucujidae), and keys for identification of adults and larvae native to Europe". ZooKeys (212). Pensoft Publishers: 63–79. Bibcode:2012ZooK..212...63B. doi:10.3897/zookeys.212.3254. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3428704. PMID 22933850.
  4. ^ "Contribution to the Knowledge of the Genus Cucujus Fabricius (Coleoptera, Cucujidae) from China". Novataxa. 6 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  5. ^ Thomas, M. C.; Leschen, R. A. B. (2010). "Cucujidae Latreille, 1802". In Leschen, R. A. B.; Beutel, R. G.; Lawrence, J. F. (eds.). Handbook of Zoology. Vol. Coleoptera, Beetles Vol. 2: Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 350–354.
  6. ^ Smith, D. B.; Sears, M. K. (1982). "Mandibular Structure and Feeding Habits of Three Morphologically Similar Coleopterous Larvae: Cucujus Clavipes (Cucujidae), Dendroides Canadensis (Pyrochroidae), and Pytho Depressus (Salpingidae)". The Canadian Entomologist. 114 (2). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 173–175. doi:10.4039/ent114173-2. ISSN 0008-347X. S2CID 85407055.
  7. ^ Carrasco, M. A.; et al. (2012). "Investigating the deep supercooling ability of an Alaskan beetle, Cucujus clavipes puniceus, via high throughput proteomics". J Proteomics. 75 (4): 1220–34. doi:10.1016/j.jprot.2011.10.034. PMID 22094879.
  8. ^ Sformo, T.; et al. (2010-01-19). "Deep supercooling, vitrification and limited survival to -100°C in the Alaskan beetle Cucujus clavipes puniceus (Coleoptera: Cucujidae) larvae". Journal of Experimental Biology. 213 (3). The Company of Biologists: 502–509. doi:10.1242/jeb.035758. ISSN 0022-0949. PMID 20086136.