Eupholus nickerli explained

Eupholus nickerli is a species of beetle belonging to the family Curculionidae.^[1]

Subspecies

Subspecies include:

• Eupholus-nickerli cyanescens ^[2]
• Eupholus-nickerli anthracina ^[3]

Distribution

This species can be found in Papua New Guinea.^[4]

Habitat

These beetles mainly inhabit warm forest.

Description

Eupholus nickerli can reach a length of about 18-.^[5] In the subspecies Eupholus-nickerli cyanescens the basic colour of these quite variable beetles is metallic blue, with some transversal irregular black bands along the elytra. The thorax is uniformly blue. In the subspecies Eupholus-nickerli anthracina the basic color is greygreyish, with transversal black and yellowish bands . These structural colours derive from very small, flat scales ^[6] and possibly serve to warn predators of their toxicity. The top of rostrum and the end of the antennae are black.

External links

• World Field Guide
• Als Photo Page

Notes and References

1. http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Eupholus_nickerli/classification/ Animal Diversity
2. http://www.coleoptera-atlas.com/curculionidae-curculionoidea/entiminae/eupholini/eupholus/Eupholus-nickerli-cyanescens Eupholus-nickerli-cyanescens at Coleoptera Atlas
3. http://www.coleoptera-atlas.com/curculionidae-curculionoidea/entiminae/eupholini/eupholus/Eupholus-nickerli-anthracina Eupholus-nickerli-anthracina at Coleoptera Atlas
4. https://www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id1000757/ Biolib
5. https://www.kaefer-der-welt.de/eupholus__nickerli.htm Kaefer-der-welt
6. Stanislav N. Gorb Functional Surfaces in Biology: Little Structures with Big Effects, Volume 1