Eur. J. Entomol. 104 (3): 635-638, 2007 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2007.079

Transition from bamboo sap to water: Aquatic habits in the sap beetle Amphicrossus japonicus (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Nitidulidae)

Damir KOVAC1, Josef JELÍNEK2, Rosli HASHIM3, Decha WIWATWITAYA4
1 Entomologie I, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany; e-mail: damir.kovac@senckenberg.de
2 Department of Entomology, National Museum, Golčova 1, 148 00 Praha 4 - Kunratice, Czech Republic; e-mail: JJ.Nitidula@seznam.cz
3 Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; e-mail: roslihashim@um.edu.my
4 Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University,
5 0 Paholyothin Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand; e-mail: ffordew@ku.ac.th


Amphicrossus japonicus is the first known facultatively aquatic nitidulid. The adult beetles breed in bamboo sap and subsequently enter water-filled bamboo culms. In water they breathe via a ventral air sheath held by hydrofuge pubescence. The beetles are facultative predators and hunt mosquito larvae, which they grab with their forelegs. The trend to facultative predation in Cucujoidea and the transition for beetles in general from semi-liquid decaying organic matter into water is discussed.

Keywords: Nitidulidae, Amphicrossus, aquatic beetles, Culicidae, bamboo, tree sap, phytotelm, hydrofuge hairs, Oriental Region, Malaysia, Thailand

Received: May 29, 2006; Revised: April 23, 2007; Accepted: April 23, 2007; Published: July 25, 2007  Show citation

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KOVAC, D., JELÍNEK, J., HASHIM, R., & WIWATWITAYA, D. (2007). Transition from bamboo sap to water: Aquatic habits in the sap beetle Amphicrossus japonicus (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Nitidulidae). EJE, 104(3), 635-638. doi: 10.14411/eje.2007.079
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