Parisopalpus nigronotatus

Parisopalpus nigronotatus, known by its common name, the spotted lax beetle, is a species of false blister beetles. It was first identified by Carl Henrik Boheman in 1858, under the name Nacerdes nigronotata.[1] Native to eastern Australia, the species was introduced to New Zealand in 1931.

Parisopalpus nigronotatus
Introduced Parisopalpus nigronotatus seen in West Auckland, New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Oedemeridae
Genus: Parisopalpus
Species:
P. nigronotatus
Binomial name
Parisopalpus nigronotatus
Boheman, 1858
Synonyms
  • Parisopalpus nigronotatus Boheman, 1858)
  • Nacerdes nigronotata Boheman, 1858
  • Ananca ni!fronotata Masters. 1859
  • Copidita nigronotata Champion, 1895
  • Sessinia stictica Broun, 1914
  • Sessinia nigronotata Schenkling, 1915

Description

Parisopalpus nigronotatus is generally coloured brick-red, with dark spots found on the beetle's body and legs. The species is densely covered with pale hair. The beetle is typically between 8.7 and 12.2 mm in length.[2]

Parisopalpus nigronotatus can be told apart from other species of Parisopalpus by the presence of at least two dark spots on the beetle's body.[2]

Distribution

Parisopalpus nigronotatus is found in eastern Australia, south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.[3] It was introduced to New Zealand in 1931,[4] and is found in Nelson and the North Island.[2]

The species has been intercepted by biosecurity in Chile.[5]

Behaviour

The beetles lay their eggs in mangroves.[4] Grubs of the species are typically found in rotting wood, and as adults the beetles feed on nectar and pollen, and are attracted to light.[6]

The beetles secrete a toxic substance as a defense, which causes skin blisters in humans if touched.[4][6]

References
  1. Boheman, C.H. (1858). Kongliga Svenska Fregatten Eugenies resa omkring Jorden aren 1851-53. Vol. II. Stockholm: Norstedt.
  2. Hudson, Logan P (1975). "A systematic revision of the New Zealand Oedemeridae (Coleoptera, Insecta)". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 5 (3): 227–274. doi:10.1080/03036758.1975.10421850. ISSN 0303-6758.
  3. "Parisopalpus nigronotatus ( Boheman , 1858)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. Baird, Alex (17 January 2017). "The 'blister beetle' parents should watch out for". Newshub. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  5. Švihila, V; Fischer, FR (2012). "Parisopalpus defoei sp. nov. from Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, the first known species of the genus from the Neotropical Region (Coleoptera: Oedemeridae)". Zootaxa. 3394 (1): 31–34. doi:10.11646/ZOOTAXA.3394.1.3. ISSN 1175-5334.
  6. "Spotted lax beetle". Landcare Research. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
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