Merimna atrata

Alice Springs Fauna •

Merimna atrata (family Buprestidae – Jewel Beetles) is the only member of the genus Merimna (thus monotypic). A widespread species that is found across most of Australia, it is also known as the ‘fire beetle’ due to it’s behaviour of being attracted to heat and fires.

The female of the species will lay their eggs in the cracks of timber, immediately after a fire, even if the plant is still smouldering. They are known to ber attracted to camp fires, mistaking them for a bushfire, and to a hot brick wall after a very hot day.

The following specimen was retrieved from a swimming pool in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

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• Scientific classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Subphylum: Hexapoda
• Class: Insecta
• Informal: Pterygotes
• Order: Coleoptera
• Suborder: Polyphaga
• Superfamily: Buprestoidea
• Family: Buprestidae
• Subfamily: Buprestinae
• Tribe: Melanophilini
• Genus: Merimna
• Species: Merimna atrata

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Alice Springs FaunaAlice Springs Native Bees Alice Springs Beetles Alice Springs Birds Alice Springs Gastropods (Gastropoda) Alice Springs Insects Alice Springs Marsupials Alice Springs Reptiles Alice Springs Spiders

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