Chalcopteroides
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| Chalcopteroides | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Tenebrionidae |
| Subfamily: | Tenebrioninae |
| Genus: | Chalcopteroides Strand, 1935 |
| Species | |
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See text | |
Chalcopteroides is a genus of darkling beetle, defined by Embrik Strand in 1935, and replacing the older name Chalcopterus which was preoccupied. The type species is Chalcopterus iridicolor.[1] The genus occurs throughout Australia.[2]
Chalcopteroides range from 6 to 23 mm in length. They are oblong in shape, glabrous and usually a metallic blue or green colour. The mandibles lack a sulcus and have either truncate or rounded apices. The lateral margins of the pronotum are complete. The elytra usually have only superficial and minute punctures (sometimes they have impressed striae). The metaventrite is long. The tarsal vestiture (hairs on the tarsi) is mostly black.[3]
Ecology
Some Chalcopteroides are known to live in soil. Additionally, arthropod fragments have been found in guts of some species, suggesting a scavenging or predatory lifestyle.[4][5]
