Tritoma is a genus of beetles in the family Erotylidae, the pleasing fungus beetles. It is distributed worldwide, mainly in the Old World.[2] There are over 100 species.[2]

Tritoma
Tritoma bipustulata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Erotylidae
Tribe: Tritomini
Genus: Tritoma
Fabricius, 1775[1]
Tritoma sanguinipennis

Some species consume euagaric mushrooms, staying concealed amidst the gills as they feed.[3] Some feed on mushrooms growing from dead trees, as well as mycorrhizae on living roots.[4] One of the most common pleasing fungus beetles in Europe, T. bipustulata, is a black beetle with red spots which engages in autohaemorrhaging as a defensive behavior.[5]

Molecular analysis suggests that Tritoma is paraphyletic, and might be best treated as two separate genera.[3]

Selected species

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Data sources: i = ITIS,[6] c = Catalogue of Life,[7] g = GBIF,[8] b = Bugguide.net[9]

References

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  1. ^ International Commission On Zoological Nomenclature (1994). "Opinion 1754. Histoire abrégée des insectes qui se trouvent aux environs de Paris (Geoffroy, 1762): some generic names conserved (Crustacea, Insecta)". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 51 (1): 58–70.
  2. ^ a b Goodrich, M. A. and C. A. Springer. (1999). The pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae) of Nebraska. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 25 53-71.
  3. ^ a b Robertson, J. A., et al. (2004). A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): evolution of colour patterns, gregariousness and mycophagy. Systematic Entomology 29(2) 173–87.
  4. ^ Skelly, P. E. Pleasing Fungus Beetles, Pseudischyrus, Tritoma, Megalodacne, Ischyrus spp. (Insecta: Coleoptera: Erotylidae). EENY-091. Entomology and Nematology. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida IFAS. 1999.
  5. ^ Drilling, K. and K. Dettner. (2010). First insights into the chemical defensive system of the erotylid beetle, Tritoma bipustulata. Chemoecology 20(4), 243-53.
  6. ^ "Tritoma Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  7. ^ "Browse Tritoma". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  8. ^ "Tritoma". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  9. ^ "Tritoma Genus Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
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  •   Media related to Tritoma at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Data related to Tritoma at Wikispecies