Byturus ochraceus

Byturus ochraceus is a species of beetle in the fruitworm family Byturidae.

Byturus ochraceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Byturidae
Genus:	Byturus
Species:	B. ochraceus
Binomial name
Byturus ochraceus (Scriba, 1791)
Synonyms[1]
Byturus olivaceus Fournel, 1840 Dermestes flavescens Marsham, 1802 Dermestes ochraceus Scriba, 1790 Horticola urbanus Lindemann, 1865

Description

Byturus ochraceus front view: note the larger eyes than Byturus tomentosus

It is morphologically very similar to other members of the genus Byturus. All species of this genus are unlikely to be confused with any other family.[2]

B. ochraceus measures 4.0–4.6 mm in length, are coloured yellow-brown with yellow hairs across the body. The pronotum is unevenly curved to the front so a front angle is apparent. The long diameter of the eyes is clearly greater than half the width of the frons. The underside is coloured dark brown to black. Some individuals change colour to grey-brown by June.[3]

Habitat and lifecycle

B. ochraceus adults are active from May until July. They are associated with a large range of host plants including: Taraxacum officinale, Salix, Caltha palustris, Potentilla anserina, Anthriscus sylvestris, Geum urbanum, Geranium robertianum, Alliaria officinale, Hieracium praealtum, Silene dioica, Stellaria nemorum, Lactuca muralis, and Ranunculus repens.[4]

References

1. "Byturus ochraceus (Scriba, 1791)". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
2. "Byturidae". Watford Coleoptera Group. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
3. Arved Lompe (2010). "Käfer Europas: Byturus" (in German). Retrieved 31 May 2018.
4. "Coleoptera >> Byturidae >> Byturus ochraceus (Scriba)". BRC Database of Insects and their Food Plants. Retrieved 31 May 2018.