Pyrota deceptiva
This record describes Pyrota deceptiva (species). Recorded family: Meloidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Medium orange; elytra usually paler than head and pronotum, varying to orange or orange-yellow, never ivory or cream colored. |
| Head | Head almost invariably with occiput black, usually with a pair of black spots between eyes, often with black markings on vertex. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum with a pair of black spots on disk (these usually large, often fused with each other), frequently with a small spot on each side at anterior corner. Elytral color pattern trifasciate, as in P. concinna but with median spot on each elytron invariably separated from the basal black area and from the apical black spot by a distance less than its own length. [emphasis added] Det. M. A. Quinn, 2012 Type Locality: Loop 13, San Antonio, Texas, September 30, 1953. |
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Tenebrionoidea
- Family
- Meloidae (Blister Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Meloinae
- Genus
- Pyrota
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
found mostly along the coastal plain
Geographic Range
OK to ne. Mex. - Map
Seasonal Activity
Mostly: Sept-Oct (full: Apr-Nov)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: food plants, all Asteraceae, include Baccharis, Eupatorium, Grindelia
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Pyrota deceptiva Selander 1963
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Pyrota deceptiva. 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 Pyrota deceptiva (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Pyrota deceptiva
What is Pyrota deceptiva?
Pyrota deceptiva is a species in the family Meloidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Pyrota deceptiva?
10-20 mm
How do you identify Pyrota deceptiva?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Additional details | Medium orange; elytra usually paler than head and pronotum, varying to orange or orange-yellow, never ivory or cream colored. |
| Head | Head almost invariably with occiput black, usually with a pair of black spots between eyes, often with black markings on vertex. |
| Pronotum | Pronotum with a pair of black spots on disk (these usually large, often fused with each other), frequently with a small spot on each side at anterior corner. Elytral color pattern trifasciate, as in P. concinna but with median spot on each elytron invariably separated from the basal black area and from the apical black spot by a distance less than its own length. [emphasis added] Det. M. A. Quinn, 2012 |
Where is Pyrota deceptiva found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | found mostly along the coastal plain |
| Range | OK to ne. Mex. - Map |
What does Pyrota deceptiva eat?
The diet of the Pyrota deceptiva includes food plants, all Asteraceae, include Baccharis, Eupatorium, Grindelia.
When is Pyrota deceptiva active?
Pyrota deceptiva: seasonal activity - Mostly: Sept-Oct (full: Apr-Nov).