Meriellum proteus
This record describes Meriellum proteus (species). Recorded family: Cerambycidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Hanley collected several specimens of this species in 2014 in a stand of Colorado Spruce trees in Minot, North Dakota. The trees had been inundated by floodwaters in 2011 and had been in decline since that flood, and were subsequently removed. no other specimens have been encountered since then despite extensive annual survey efforts throughout the city.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Cerambycinae
- Tribe
- Callidiini
- Genus
- Meriellum
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: supposedly associated with dead and dying Picea and Pinus
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Meriellum proteus. 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 Meriellum proteus (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by ghanley1