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Malachius bipustulatus - Male antenna w. excitators The males of Malachite beetles (Malachiidae) carry excitatory glands (&quot;excitators&quot;) on their body - special organs that attract females. In the various genera these excitators are located at different positions on the body. In Malachius the excitators are placed on the first antenna segments, making it easy to recognize males of Malachius by these conspicuous protuberances.<br /> Examples of excitators on the tip of the fore wings can be seen here:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/54489/anthocomus_equestris_-_male.html" title="Anthocomus equestris - Male"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/54489_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1718236810&Signature=UH4qKk%2BWT6ZGNnDrieIKQCG%2FECc%3D" width="200" height="114" alt="Anthocomus equestris - Male Male Anthocomus equestris. In Anthocomus the &#039;excitatory&#039; glands (shown in the inset bottom right) are situated at the tip of the elytra. Anthocomus,Anthocomus equestris,Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Melyridae" /></a></figure> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/80332/clanoptilus_elegans_-_male.html" title="Clanoptilus elegans - male"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/80332_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1718236810&Signature=2k8UlqzfACoBK2mP3ltsreaI8RQ%3D" width="200" height="114" alt="Clanoptilus elegans - male Collage of male Clanoptilus elegans, showing diagnostic details such as shape/colour of antenna segments and excitators at the tip of the elytra. Clanoptilus,Clanoptilus elegans,Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Geotagged,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Melyridae" /></a></figure> <br /> <br /> More images of same individual:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79364/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_dorsal.html" title="Malachius bipustulatus - Male dorsal"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/79364_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1718236810&Signature=%2BHBMkw0161rViFpD9DcBkttavlw%3D" width="200" height="114" alt="Malachius bipustulatus - Male dorsal Same male, with details of head, antennae and excitatory glands:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79365/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_excitators.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79366/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_head_ventral.html Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Malachite beetle,Malachius,Malachius bipustulatus,Melyridae,nl: Roodtipbasterdweekschild" /></a></figure><br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79366/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_head_ventral.html" title="Malachius bipustulatus - Male head ventral"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3043/79366_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1718236810&Signature=A%2FAKDEQ%2F87775q2M6YCsyb0A3gI%3D" width="200" height="200" alt="Malachius bipustulatus - Male head ventral Ventral view at the head and the excitators on the antennae of this male Mal.bip.:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79364/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_dorsal.html Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Malachite beetle,Malachius,Malachius bipustulatus,Melyridae,nl: Roodtipbasterdweekschild" /></a></figure> Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Malachite beetle,Malachius,Malachius bipustulatus,Melyridae,nl: Roodtipbasterdweekschild Click/tap to enlarge

Malachius bipustulatus - Male antenna w. excitators

The males of Malachite beetles (Malachiidae) carry excitatory glands ("excitators") on their body - special organs that attract females. In the various genera these excitators are located at different positions on the body. In Malachius the excitators are placed on the first antenna segments, making it easy to recognize males of Malachius by these conspicuous protuberances.
Examples of excitators on the tip of the fore wings can be seen here:

Anthocomus equestris - Male Male Anthocomus equestris. In Anthocomus the 'excitatory' glands (shown in the inset bottom right) are situated at the tip of the elytra. Anthocomus,Anthocomus equestris,Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Melyridae
Clanoptilus elegans - male Collage of male Clanoptilus elegans, showing diagnostic details such as shape/colour of antenna segments and excitators at the tip of the elytra. Clanoptilus,Clanoptilus elegans,Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Geotagged,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Melyridae


More images of same individual:
Malachius bipustulatus - Male dorsal Same male, with details of head, antennae and excitatory glands:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79365/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_excitators.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79366/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_head_ventral.html Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Malachite beetle,Malachius,Malachius bipustulatus,Melyridae,nl: Roodtipbasterdweekschild

Malachius bipustulatus - Male head ventral Ventral view at the head and the excitators on the antennae of this male Mal.bip.:<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/79364/malachius_bipustulatus_-_male_dorsal.html Cleroidea,Coleoptera,Excitatory glands,Malachiidae,Malachiinae,Malachite beetle,Malachius,Malachius bipustulatus,Melyridae,nl: Roodtipbasterdweekschild

    comments (3)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Neat! I had never heard of excitatory glands before. Posted 4 years ago
    1. View Pudding4brains's profile
      Pudding4brains
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Another strange phenomena :o) Here is an image of a female Clanoptilus elegans going wild on the excitators at the tip of the elytra of her mate ... strange stuff ... *rolleyes*
      https://waarneming.nl/photos/11013274/       Posted 4 years ago
      1. View Christine Young's profile
        Christine Young
        Lion
        View Lion class
        I couldn't get that link to work, so I googled, "female Clanoptilus elegans going wild on the excitators" and the search results were all videos of "girls gone wild", which I guess is accurate in a way. Posted 4 years ago

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The Malachite beetle

"Malachius bipustulatus", the malachite beetle, is a species of soft-winged flower beetles belonging to the family Melyridae subfamily Malachiinae. In case of necessity, this beetle can release a smell that deters predators. The males attract females producing special secretions from its antennae.

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Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by Pudding4brains
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By Pudding4brains

Public Domain
Uploaded May 21, 2019.
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