Lordithon quaesitor
Bobitobus quaesitor
This record describes Bobitobus quaesitor (species). Recorded family: Staphylinidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
It has a relatively long thin head, the body is shining black with the golden blotches on the elytra - D.S. Chandler one of the potential old-growth indicators in the Northeast; it is a species proposed for threatened/endangered lists for several states - D.S. Chandler
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Staphylinoidea
- Family
- Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Mycetoporinae
- Genus
- Bobitobus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
old-growth forests - D.S. Chandler
Geographic Range
a rare species known from eastern North America from southern Québec and Ontario south to Illinois and Kentucky and along the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina
Diet and Behavior
Diet: In New Brunswick, most frequently found on Bjerkandera adusta (a fleshy polypore fungus) on the side of beech logs and standing dead beech trees in mature hardwood forests
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Bobitobus quaesitor. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Lordithon quaesitor (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Beatriz Moisset; Additional contributions by metrioptera
Frequently Asked Questions About Lordithon quaesitor
What is Lordithon quaesitor?
Lordithon quaesitor (Bobitobus quaesitor) is a species in the family Staphylinidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Lordithon quaesitor?
It has a relatively long thin head, the body is shining black with the golden blotches on the elytra - D.S. Chandler
Where is Lordithon quaesitor found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | old-growth forests - D.S. Chandler |
| Range | a rare species known from eastern North America from southern Québec and Ontario south to Illinois and Kentucky and along the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina |
What does Lordithon quaesitor eat?
The diet of the Lordithon quaesitor includes In New Brunswick, most frequently found on Bjerkandera adusta (a fleshy polypore fungus) on the side of beech logs and standing dead beech trees in mature hardwood forests.