Parastenomordella ensifera facts for kids

Parastenomordella ensifera is a type of beetle that belongs to a group called Parastenomordella. These beetles are part of a larger family known as Mordellidae. This family is then part of an even bigger group called Tenebrionoidea. Scientists officially described this particular beetle in 1989. A scientist named Franciscolo was the one who first described it.

What is Parastenomordella ensifera?

Parastenomordella ensifera is a small insect. It has a hard outer shell, which is typical for all beetles. Beetles are the largest group of insects on Earth. There are hundreds of thousands of different kinds! This specific beetle is part of the Mordellidae family. These beetles are often called "tumbling flower beetles" because of how they move. They can tumble or jump when they are disturbed.

Beetle Basics: What are Beetles?

Beetles are insects with special front wings. These wings are hard and shell-like. They protect the softer flying wings underneath. When a beetle wants to fly, it lifts these hard wings. Then it uses its delicate back wings to fly. Beetles have six legs and two antennae. They also have compound eyes, which means their eyes are made of many tiny lenses.

Where Do These Beetles Live?

Most beetles in the Mordellidae family, like Parastenomordella ensifera, prefer warm places. They are often found in forests or areas with lots of plants. Many of them live on flowers. They might hide in the petals or on the leaves. They are usually active during the day.

What Do They Eat?

Many tumbling flower beetles, including those in the Mordellidae family, eat pollen and nectar from flowers. This makes them important for helping plants reproduce. When they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen. Some types of these beetles might also eat decaying wood or fungi. This helps to break down dead plants in nature.

The Beetle Life Cycle

Like many insects, beetles go through a complete life cycle. This means they have four main stages. It starts with an egg. The female beetle lays tiny eggs, often on plants. After the egg hatches, a larva emerges. The larva is like a worm. It spends its time eating and growing. It sheds its skin several times as it gets bigger.

Next, the larva changes into a pupa. The pupa stage is a resting stage. During this time, the larva transforms into an adult beetle. It might build a cocoon or hide in the soil. Finally, the adult beetle comes out of the pupa. The adult beetle's main job is to reproduce and lay new eggs.

Discovering New Species

Scientists are always finding new types of animals and plants. When a scientist finds a creature that has never been described before, it's a big discovery! They study it carefully. They compare it to other known species. If it's truly new, they give it a scientific name. This name helps other scientists around the world know exactly which creature they are talking about. Parastenomordella ensifera was discovered and named in 1989. This shows that there are still many amazing creatures to find and learn about!

See also

• Parastenomordella ensifera para niños (Information in Spanish for kids)