Mordellistena flavicornis facts for kids

Mordellistena flavicornis is a tiny beetle that belongs to a group called Mordellistena. These beetles are part of a larger family known as Mordellidae. A scientist named George Charles Champion first described this specific beetle in 1891.

What is a Beetle?

Beetles are amazing insects that make up the largest group of living things on Earth. They have hard outer wings that protect their delicate flying wings underneath. This hard shell is called an elytra. Beetles can be found almost everywhere, from forests to deserts. They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

Beetle Body Parts

All beetles have a body divided into three main parts. These parts are the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. They also have six legs, two antennae, and usually two pairs of wings. The front pair of wings are the hard elytra. The back pair are thin and used for flying.

How Beetles Grow

Beetles go through a complete change in their life, which is called complete metamorphosis. This means they have four main stages. They start as an egg, then hatch into a larva. The larva eats a lot and grows. After that, it changes into a pupa, which is a resting stage. Finally, the pupa transforms into an adult beetle.

Meet the Tumbling Flower Beetles

Mordellistena flavicornis is part of the Mordellidae family. These beetles are often called "tumbling flower beetles." They get this name because of their unique way of moving. When they are disturbed, they often tumble or jump away quickly. They are also usually found on flowers.

Where They Live

Tumbling flower beetles, including those in the Mordellistena genus, are found all over the world. They prefer places where there are plenty of flowers. You might spot them in meadows, gardens, or forests. They are often active during the day.

What They Eat

Adult tumbling flower beetles mostly feed on pollen and nectar from flowers. This makes them important for pollination. They help plants reproduce by carrying pollen from one flower to another. The larvae of these beetles often live inside decaying wood or plant stems. They feed on the plant material there.

Mordellistena flavicornis: A Closer Look

Mordellistena flavicornis is a specific species within the Mordellistena genus. The name "flavicornis" gives us a clue about this beetle. "Flavi" means yellow, and "cornis" refers to horns or antennae. This suggests that Mordellistena flavicornis might have yellowish antennae.

Discovery and Naming

This particular beetle was first identified and described by George Charles Champion. He was a British entomologist, which is a scientist who studies insects. Champion described many new species of beetles during his career. His work helped us understand the diversity of insects in the world.

Importance of Beetles

Beetles play many important roles in nature. They help break down dead plants and animals, which cleans up the environment. Some beetles are predators and help control populations of other insects. As we learned, many beetles, like the tumbling flower beetles, are also important pollinators. They help plants make seeds and fruits.