Melanophila is a genus of buprestid beetles commonly known as fire beetles. They have extraordinary sensitivity to infrared radiation (heat), using a specialized sensor organ near their legs. They seek out fires in order to mate and lay eggs in freshly burned wood.
Species
The genus Melanophila consists of the following species:
- Melanophila acuminata <small>(DeGeer, 1774)</small>
- Melanophila atra <small>Gory, 1841</small>
- Melanophila atropurpurea <small>(Say, 1823)</small>
- Melanophila caudata <small>(Laporte & Gory, 1837)</small>
- Melanophila consputa <small>LeConte, 1857</small>
- Melanophila cockerellae <small>Wickham, 1912</small>
- Melanophila coriacea <small>Kerremans, 1894</small>
- Melanophila cuspidata <small>(Klug, 1829)</small>
- Melanophila gestroi <small>Obenberger, 1923</small>
- Melanophila handlirschi <small>Wickham, 1912</small>
- Melanophila heeri <small>Wickham, 1914</small>
- Melanophila ignicola <small>Champion, 1918</small>
- Melanophila notata <small>(Laporte & Gory, 1837)</small>
- Melanophila obscurata <small>Lewis, 1893</small>
- Melanophila occidentalis <small>Obenberger, 1928</small>
- Melanophila unicolor <small>Gory, 1841</small>
References