Powered by
TranslatePimelia Chrysomeloides
Pimelia Chrysomeloides (Pallas, 1781)
Body length: 15 to 21mm
Family: Tenebrionidae, Sub family Pimeliinae.
Season: May to September
Pimelia is a genus of “Darkling Beetles”, more commonly named because most of the species in this “family” are a dark brown or black in colour.
P. Chrysomeloides are Univoltine (only have just one brood in a year), the species has originated from North Africa and are mainly restricted to the Iberia area of Southern Spain. The images below were taken in the month of September, in the “Costa Blanca” region (Just south of Alicante City).
Habitat: Can be found in a variety of habitats, particularly Coastal, including sand dunes, also typical desert related areas. This is a very hardy species of Beetle being able to survive in extreme hot and dry conditions, long droughts and sparse vegetation. Being detrivores feeders their diet consists mainly of decomposing plants, dead organisms, as well as fecal matter. Their diet behaviour can change dramatically during mating season as they may cannibalise other adults, larvae and eggs. This change in diet behaviour may be needed for extra energy found in the nutrients, or to eradicate any competition when mating; or could be for both reasons.
P. Chrysomeloides are diurnal, they emerge early in the morning, then later in the evening when the temperatures of the day are at their coolest. In the heat of the day and at night the adult beetle will bury itself in the sand, this being the most important behaviour enabling the beetle to live in a broad range of diverse temperatures.
When the temperatures rise above 50 degrees centigrade the adult population starts to die off. The immature beetles remain below the surface until maturity, then early January in North Africa the adult beetles start to appear, later in the year the further North you go.
Read MoreBody length: 15 to 21mm
Family: Tenebrionidae, Sub family Pimeliinae.
Season: May to September
Pimelia is a genus of “Darkling Beetles”, more commonly named because most of the species in this “family” are a dark brown or black in colour.
P. Chrysomeloides are Univoltine (only have just one brood in a year), the species has originated from North Africa and are mainly restricted to the Iberia area of Southern Spain. The images below were taken in the month of September, in the “Costa Blanca” region (Just south of Alicante City).
Habitat: Can be found in a variety of habitats, particularly Coastal, including sand dunes, also typical desert related areas. This is a very hardy species of Beetle being able to survive in extreme hot and dry conditions, long droughts and sparse vegetation. Being detrivores feeders their diet consists mainly of decomposing plants, dead organisms, as well as fecal matter. Their diet behaviour can change dramatically during mating season as they may cannibalise other adults, larvae and eggs. This change in diet behaviour may be needed for extra energy found in the nutrients, or to eradicate any competition when mating; or could be for both reasons.
P. Chrysomeloides are diurnal, they emerge early in the morning, then later in the evening when the temperatures of the day are at their coolest. In the heat of the day and at night the adult beetle will bury itself in the sand, this being the most important behaviour enabling the beetle to live in a broad range of diverse temperatures.
When the temperatures rise above 50 degrees centigrade the adult population starts to die off. The immature beetles remain below the surface until maturity, then early January in North Africa the adult beetles start to appear, later in the year the further North you go.
