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Drilus flavescens
The eggs are laid in the soil and the young larvae of this beetle are covered with hairs. They are predators of land shell-bearing snails. At the third stage larva pupates in the empty shells. Finally we have the adult. The adult males are approximately 10 mm long. They have long comb-shaped antennas, probably utilized for detecting pheromones of females. Head and pronotum are black, while elytra are reddish, quite soft and covered of fine upstanding hairs. It can be encountered on flowers and foliage.Drilus flavescens is one of the most extreme cases of sexual dimorphism in insects. The females of this beetle look like a caterpillar – so called larviforme females - completely lacking of wings and other adult characters. They live on the ground in the shells of snails (frequently Fruticicola fruticum feeding of the inabitants, previously killed with a poisonous bite and sucked in with the help of digestive enzymes.
Although according to Wikipedia this insect is mainly present in Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, I have found it here in Croatia.
The biology of Drilidae is poorly known.
Spotted on May 5, 2013
Submitted on May 5, 2013
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