Soft-winged Flower Beetles

(Coleoptera: Melyridae)

The most common North American species belong to the genus Collops. Species Collops hirtellus LeConte, 1876 is common in the Pacific Northwest. Most “melyrid” adults and larvae are predaceous. They are generalist predators feeding on aphids, green stink bug eggs, and larvae of the alfalfa weevil. They can be found in wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, grasses, and most crops attacked by aphids.

Description

The adult beetles are soft-bodied and elongate-oval in shape, about 10 mm long or less. Many are bright in color with brown or red and black markings. Species Collops hirtellus is metallic blue or green in color and usually orange on the ventral side of the body. Also, the two basal antennal segments are greatly enlarged. Larvae are soil-dwelling, orange in color, up to 13 mm long with two hooks on their rear segment. C. quadrimaculatus (Fabricius) is another species from this genus very common in North America. Adults are reddish, with two bluish black spots on each forewing. Batrachotoxins are found in them.

References

• Triplehorn, C. and Johnson, N.: “Borror and DeLong’s Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th Ed.”, page 429. Brooks/Cole, 2005.

Use pesticides with care. Apply them only to plants, animals, or sites as listed on the label. When mixing or applying insecticides, follow all label precautions to protect yourself and others around you. It is a violation of the law to disregard label directions. If pesticides are spilled on skin or clothing, remove clothing and wash skin thoroughly. Store pesticides in their original containers and keep them out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock. Refer to the online version of the Pacific Northwest Insect Management Handbook for additional information regarding pesticide use and specific insecticide recommendations and application rates for Hessian fly (Hollingsworth 2019). The handbook is also available at Extension offices in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.