Cardinal beetle | |
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Pyrochroa coccinea | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Pyrochroidae |
Genus: | Pyrochroa |
Species: | P. coccinea
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Binomial name | |
Pyrochroa coccinea Linnaeus, 1762
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Pyrochroa coccinea, commonly known as the black-headed cardinal beetle, is a species of cardinal beetle in the family Pyrochoidae. It is found mainly in wooded areas and pastures throughout central Europe, including southern Great Britain.[1] Similar to other species of Ambrosia beetles, P. coccinea live and reproduce on wooden logs in early stages of decomposition.[1] Larvae develop over the span of many years, with overlapping generations often inhabiting a single wooden territory.[1] Adults, however, are short-lived and exist during a brief season. They typically show up in April, become more populous in May and early June, and become very rare in the remaining months.[2]