Julodimorpha
Appearance
Julodimorpha | |
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Julodimorpha bakewelli from Australia | |
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Genus: | Julodimorpha Gemminger & Harold, 1869
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Julodimorpha is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:[1]
Species
- Julodimorpha bakewelli (White, 1859)
- Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson, 1878
Observations on mating behaviour
In 1983, entomologists Darryl Gwynne and David Rentz reported on male Julodimorpha saundersii (confused at that time with the closely related J. bakewelli[2]) observed attempting to copulate with discarded brown stubbies (a type of beer bottles) studded with tubercules (bobbly bits).[3] This work won them the 2011 Ig Nobel Prize in biology.[4] This is an example of a supernormal stimulus.
References
- ^ Bellamy, C. L. (2010). "Genus Julodimorpha". A Checklist of World Buprestoidea. Retrieved 16 Jun 2011.
- ^ Bellamy, C.L. & T. Weir. 2008. The reinstatement of Julodimorpha saundersii Thomson 1879 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) as a valid species. Zootaxa 1751: 46–54.
- ^ D. T. Gwynne, D. C. F. Rentz (February 1983). "Beetles on the Bottle: Male Buprestids Mistake Stubbies for Females (Coleoptera)". Australian Journal of Entomology. 22 (1): 79–80. doi:10.1111/j.1440-6055.1983.tb01846.x.
- ^ Jonathan Amos (September 30, 2011). "Beetle's beer bottle sex wins Ig Nobel Prize". BBC News. Retrieved September 30, 2011.