Melasis
{{short description|Genus of beetles}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Melasis buprestoides up.jpg
| image_caption = Melasis bupestroides
| taxon = Melasis
| authority = Olivier (1790)
| display_parents = 2
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = see text
}}
Melasis is the type genus of false click beetles of subfamily Melasinae and tribe Melasini. It contains fourteen species, native to North America and parts of Europe, four of which can be found in the Nearctic realm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gbif.org/species/4405160|title=Melasis Olivier, 1790|website=www.gbif.org|language=en|access-date=2019-05-28}}
Description
The species in the genus are approximately 4.0-13.0 mm long. They can be identified by their flat tibiae, lack of antennal grooves on the prothorax, and the pectinate antennae of male specimens.{{Cite web|url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/96759|title=Genus Melasis - BugGuide.Net|website=bugguide.net|access-date=2019-05-28}}
Species
- M. brinchangi
- M. pectinicornis Melsheimer
- M. buprestoides L.
- M. fermini Sanchez-Ruiz & de la Rosa
- M. japonica Hisamatsu
- M. rufipalis Chevrolat
- M. rufipennis Horn
- M. shikokensis Hisamatsu
- M. sinensis Lucht.
- M. tibialis Lucht.
- M. tsugae Hopping
Distribution and habitat
The species are found across North America, and more densely in Europe. One species is found only in the southwestern United States, two others only on the Western Coast, and another is more widespread in the region, being found across southern Canada and the Eastern United States.{{Cite journal|last=Muona|first=J.|date=2000|title=A Revision of the Nearctic Eucnemidae|journal=Acta Zoologica Fennica|volume=212|pages=106}} Only M. bupestroides is widespread in Europe, but M. fermini can also be found in Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukbeetles.co.uk/melasis-buprestoides|title=uk beetles {{!}} Melasis buprestoides|website=Coleoptera {{!}} Watford {{!}} UK Beetles|language=en|access-date=2019-05-28}}
The species are largely found in forested areas in late April through July. Their larvae usually feed on conifers like firs, and usually develop in hard wood.