ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

The family Lycidae, in the order Coleoptera are a large cosmopolitan group of beetles found around the world and who are collectively group under the common name of the Net-winged Beetles. The common name refers to the net-like pattern of ridges on the elytra (wing-covers).

Tribe Metriorrhynchini, Majura ACT © Tony Eales
Tribe Metriorrhynchini, Majura ACT © Tony Eales

The beetles of this family have an elongated shape and are usually found on flowers or stems. The adults of some species of Lycidae are nectarivores, others may only have short lives as adult, during which they may not feed at all.

Long-nosed Lycid Beetle (Porrostoma rhipidium), Namadgi National Park NSW © Tony Eales
Long-nosed Lycid Beetle (Porrostoma rhipidium), Namadgi National Park NSW © Tony Eales

The adult males are approximately 10–15 mm in length, whilst the females are slightly larger. The head shape of Lycid Beetles are triangular in appearance and they have long, thick, serrated looking antennae.

Subtribe Metriorrhynchina, Brisbane QLD © Tony Eales
Subtribe Metriorrhynchina, Brisbane QLD © Tony Eales

Most species are brick-red to orange in colour, a warning colour to potential predators, that they are toxic. There are species that ae paler in colour, whilst others have black markings or may be more black then red-orange.

Tribe Metriorrhynchini, Kuranda QLD © Tony Eales
Tribe Metriorrhynchini, Kuranda QLD © Tony Eales
Subtribe Metriorrhynchina, Farringdon NSW © Tony Eales
Subtribe Metriorrhynchina (possibly Trichalus ampliatus), Farringdon NSW © Tony Eales

The predaceous larvae are often found growing under bark or in leaf litter. Pictured here is the strange looking “Trilobite” larva (genus Porrostoma, family Lycidae)3.

Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the genus Porrostoma, Lycidae, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales

Following is another unknown Lycidae larva.

Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales
Larva of the Net-winged Beetle Lycidae, Seven Hills QLD © Tony Eales

This page is a work in progress…

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Family: Lycidae
  • Subfamily:
    • Calochrominae
    • Erotinae
    • Metriorrhynchinae
Tribe Metriorrhynchini, Farringdon NSW © Tony Eales
Tribe Metriorrhynchini (possibly Achras limbatum), Farringdon NSW © Tony Eales
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Elateroidea
  • Family: Lycidae
  • Subfamily: Metriorrhynchinae
  • Tribe: Metriorrhynchini
  • Genus: Achras
  • Species Achras limbatum
Metriorrhynchus flavolimbatusi, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
Metriorrhynchus flavolimbatus, Mount Glorious QLD © Tony Eales
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Elateroidea
  • Family: Lycidae
  • Subfamily: Metriorrhynchinae
  • Tribe: Metriorrhynchini
  • Genus: Metriorrhynchus
  • Species Metriorrhynchus flavolimbatus
Cladophorus cinctus, Elimbah QLD © Tony Eales
Cladophorus cinctus, Elimbah QLD © Tony Eales
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Elateroidea
  • Family: Lycidae
  • Subfamily: Metriorrhynchinae
  • Tribe: Metriorrhynchini
  • Genus: Cladophorus
  • Species: Cladophorus cinctus
Long-nosed Lycid Beetle (Porrostoma rhipidium), Majura, ACT © Tony Eales
Long-nosed Lycid Beetle (Porrostoma rhipidium), Majura, ACT © Tony Eales
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Elateroidea
  • Family: Lycidae
  • Subfamily: Metriorrhynchinae
  • Tribe: Metriorrhynchini
  • Genus: Porrostoma

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Tony Eales
  2. Net-winged Beetles (Family Lycidae), tjeales, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?place_id=any&subview=map&taxon_id=49360&user_id=tjeales&verifiable=any
  3. “Trilobite” larva (page 42), The BowerBird Bugle, Edition 51, Ken Walker, 5 May 2017 Museum Victoria, https://researchdata.museum.vic.gov.au/BowerBird_Bugle/Edition_51.pdf
  4. Metriorrhynchus flavolimbatus Lea, 1921, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Metriorrhynchus flavolimbatus
  5. Trichalus ampliatus Waterhouse, 1877, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Trichalus ampliatus
  6. Cladophorus cinctus (Waterhouse, 1877), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Cladophorus cinctus
  7. Porrostoma Castelnau, 1838, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Porrostoma

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub