Merimna

Merimna atrata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Family: Buprestidae
Tribe: Melanophilini
Genus: Merimna
Saunders, 1868
Species:
M. atrata
Binomial name
Merimna atrata
(Gory & Laporte, 1837)

Merimna atrata is a species of beetle in the family Buprestidae, family Buprestinae, tribe Melanophilini and is the only species in the genus Merimna.[1][2] It is native to Australia. It is a pyrophilic species, preferentially laying its eggs in recently burned wood. Its body has infrared sensors which allows it to avoid landing on burning hot surfaces.[3]

References

  1. ^ Bellamy, C. L. (2013). "Genus Merimna". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 7 Sep 2021.
  2. ^ "Genus Merimna". iNaturalist Luxembourg. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
  3. ^ Hinz, Marcel; Klein, Adrian; Schmitz, Anke; Schmitz, Helmut (2018-02-12). "The impact of infrared radiation in flight control in the Australian "firebeetle" Merimna atrata". PLOS ONE. 13 (2) e0192865. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192865. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 5809089. PMID 29432476.