Glischrochilus hortensis explained

Glischrochilus hortensis is a species of beetle in the genus Glischrochilus of the family Nitidulidae.^[1] The genus are commonly known as 'sap-beetles'.

Description

The species is approximately 4–6 mm in length and is a uniform dark colouration on its head, thorax and abdomen. It has four prominent orange blotches on the elytra.^[2]

It is very similar in appearance to Glischrochilus quadripunctatus. In difference it is stouter, with the sides of the thorax more or less continuous with the elytra.^[3]

Distribution

Glischrochilus hortensis is a widespread Euro-Siberian species.^[4]

It is one of the three species of Glischrochilus found in the United Kingdom^[5] and has a wide distribution in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Habitat

Glischrochilus hortensis is often found in woodland, particularly near exuding tree sap. It feeds on the tree sap and over-ripe fruit. A survey in Turkey in 2013 caught specimens in aerial traps baited with beer in a mixed broadleaved and coniferous tree forest.

It is active all-year round, but most often found in the months April to October.

See also

• Photographic comparison of Glischrochilus hortensis with other Glischrochilus species.
• Bibliography for Glischrochilus hortensis at Biodiversity Heritage Library

Notes and References

1. Web site: Glischrochilus (Librodor) hortensis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785) . National Biodiversity Network . 6 May 2016 . 2 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160602110416/https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0020152190 . live .
2. Web site: Glischrochilus hortensis . NatureSpot . 6 May 2016 . 5 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160605001126/http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/glischrochilus-hortensis . live .
3. Chinery, M. 2012. Insects of Britain and Western Europe (Domino Guide, Revised 3rd Edition). Bloomsbury: London, Berlin, New York, Sydney. pp274.
4. Avgin, S. S., Antonini, G., Lason, A., Jansson, N., Abacigil, T. O., Varli, S. V., De Biase, A., and Audisio, P. 2015. "New data on distribution, ecology, and taxonomy of Turkish Nitidulidae (Coleoptera)", Turkish Journal of Zoology 39. 314-322. DOI: 10.3906/zoo-1402-27
5. Web site: Glischrochilus hortensis (Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785) . Trevor and Dilys Pendleton . 2016 . 6 May 2016 . 27 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160327004120/http://www.eakringbirds.com/eakringbirds6/insectinfocusglischrochilushortensis.htm . live .