Glischrochilus hortensis
{{Short description|Species of beetle}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Glischrochilus hortensis01.jpg
| image_caption = Glischrochilus hortensis. Note the four orange blotches on the elytra.
| genus = Glischrochilus
| species = hortensis
| authority = Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785
}}
Glischrochilus hortensis is a species of beetle in the genus Glischrochilus of the family Nitidulidae.{{cite web |url=https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0020152190 |title=Glischrochilus (Librodor) hortensis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785) |publisher=National Biodiversity Network |accessdate=6 May 2016 |archive-date=2 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602110416/https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0020152190 |url-status=live }} The genus are commonly known as 'sap-beetles'.
File:Glischrochilus hortensis (Fourcroy, 1785) (29838629481).png
Description
The species is approximately 4–6 mm in length and is a uniform dark colouration on its head, thorax and abdomen. It has four prominent orange blotches on the elytra.{{cite web |url=http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/glischrochilus-hortensis |title=Glischrochilus hortensis |publisher=NatureSpot |accessdate=6 May 2016 |archive-date=5 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605001126/http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/glischrochilus-hortensis |url-status=live }}
It is very similar in appearance to Glischrochilus quadripunctatus. In difference it is stouter, with the sides of the thorax more or less continuous with the elytra.Chinery, M. 2012. Insects of Britain and Western Europe (Domino Guide, Revised 3rd Edition). Bloomsbury: London, Berlin, New York, Sydney. pp274.
Distribution
Glischrochilus hortensis is a widespread Euro-Siberian species.Avgin, S. S., Antonini, G., Lason, A., Jansson, N., Abacigil, T. O., Varli, S. V., De Biase, A., and Audisio, P. 2015. "New data on distribution, ecology, and taxonomy of Turkish Nitidulidae (Coleoptera)", ''Turkish Journal of Zoology 39. 314-322. DOI: 10.3906/zoo-1402-27
It is one of the three species of Glischrochilus found in the United Kingdom{{cite web |url=http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds6/insectinfocusglischrochilushortensis.htm |title=Glischrochilus hortensis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785) |author=Trevor and Dilys Pendleton |date=2016 |accessdate=6 May 2016 |archive-date=27 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327004120/http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds6/insectinfocusglischrochilushortensis.htm |url-status=live }} and has a wide distribution in England, Wales, and Scotland.
Habitat
Glischrochilus hortensis is often found in woodland, particularly near exuding tree sap. It feeds on the tree sap and over-ripe fruit. A survey in Turkey in 2013 caught specimens in aerial traps baited with beer in a mixed broadleaved and coniferous tree forest.
It is active all-year round, but most often found in the months April to October.
See also
- [http://www.kerbtier.de/cgi-bin/enXCompare.cgi?ID=c0ec0d0d6d Photographic comparison of Glischrochilus hortensis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815200806/http://www.kerbtier.de/cgi-bin/enXCompare.cgi?ID=c0ec0d0d6d |date=2016-08-15 }} with other Glischrochilus species.
- [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/name/Glischrochilus_hortensis Bibliography for Glischrochilus hortensis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808083121/http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/name/Glischrochilus_hortensis |date=2016-08-08 }} at Biodiversity Heritage Library