Chlaenius circumscriptus
{{short description|Species of beetle}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Beetle (Epomis circumscriptus) attacking and preying upon treefrog (Hyla savignyi).ogv
|image_caption =Chlaenius circumscriptus preying upon a tree frog, Hyla savignyi
| genus = Chlaenius
| species = circumscriptus
| authority = (Duftschmid, 1812)
| display_parents = 4
| synonyms =
Epomis circumscriptus Duftschmid, 1812
}}
Chlaenius circumscriptus is a species of ground beetle native to the Palearctic, the Near East, and North Africa.{{Cite journal |first1 = Gil |last1 = Wizen |first2 = Claudia |last2 = Drees |first3 = Avital |last3 = Gasith |year=2012 |title = Distribution of two Epomis species (Carabidae, Chlaeniini) in Israel, with notes on their habitat |journal = Israel Journal of Entomology |volume=41 |pages=95–106|url=http://www.gilwizen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IJE-41-2.8-Wizen.pdf }}
This species was formerly called Epomis circumscriptus, a member of the genus Epomis.
Distribution
It is known from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.{{Cite journal |first1 = Yanai |last1 = Zohar |first2 = Truskanov |last2 = Noa |first3 = Avital |last3 = Gasith |first4 = Gil |last4 = Wizen |year=2015 |title = First record of Epomis circumscriptus (Duftschmid, 1812) (Carabidae: Chlaeniini) from the eastern Dead Sea area, Jordan |journal = Israel Journal of Entomology |volume=44-45 |pages=1–4}}
Description and ecology
Adult beetles are metallic blue with violet luster, with a striking yellow-orange rim on the elytra and mostly yellow-colored legs and antennae. They are {{convert|18|to|22.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in length.Trautner Jürgen, & Geigenmüller Katrin (1987). Tiger beetles, ground beetles. Illustrated key to the Cicindelidae and Carabidae of Europe. TRIOPS Verlag.
The larvae reach a body length of up to 20 millimeters, they are white or yellow colored, with black and orange markings. Like many ground beetle larvae they are elongated with two extensions (Urogomphi) at the rear end. They have characteristic double-hooked mandibles. The larvae feed exclusively on amphibians, which they lure by making prey-like movements.{{Cite journal|title = An unprecedented role reversal: ground beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) lure amphibians and prey upon them |journal = PLOS ONE|date = 2011-09-21|pmc = 3177849|pmid = 21957480|pages = e25161|volume = 6|issue = 9|doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0025161|first1 = Gil|last1 = Wizen|first2 = Avital|last2 = Gasith|doi-access = free}} The larvae can often evade the first strike of the amphibian by being alert, and then strike back at once, while the amphibian is in close proximity. Latching on with their mandibles, they suck the body fluids of their new host, progressing to chewing its skin and eating its tissues. Eventually they may kill their host. Even if they are taken into the amphibian's mouth at the first strike, they may survive; one young frog appeared to find the larva it caught distasteful, failed to spit it out, swallowed it, only to regurgitate it a couple of hours later, covered with mucus but apparently unharmed. When the larvae molt, they drop off their host and need to find a new one.{{cite book|author1=Sillar, Keith T. |author2=Picton, Laurence D. |author3=Heitler, William J.|title=The Neuroethology of Predation and Escape |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MhCRCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 |year=2016 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-97223-6 |pages=15–16}} The adult beetles are generalist predators, but can also feed on amphibians much larger than themselves.{{Cite journal|title = Predation of amphibians by carabid beetles of the genus Epomis found in the central coastal plain of Israel|url = https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=2413|journal = ZooKeys|pmc = 3131015|pmid = 21738411|pages = 181–191|issue = 100|doi = 10.3897/zookeys.100.1526|first1 = Gil|last1 = Wizen|first2 = Avital|last2 = Gasith|year = 2011|doi-access = free}}
References
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
{{Cite web| title=Chlaenius circumscriptus (Duftschmid, 1812)
| url=https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/5Y7JK
| website=Catalogue of Life
| access-date=2023-03-23
}}
}}
- {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q13464018}}
Category:Insects of North Africa
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