Featured speciesText © K. Reißmann, T. Hörren, M. Stern, F. Bötzl and C. Benisch
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23.10.2020
Thymalus limbatus (F., 1787)
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The 5 to 7 mm large shield beetle Thymalus limbatus (family Peltidae) is the only representative of the genus in Germany. At first sight, its habitus resembles a leaf beetle of the genus Cassida. In total three Thymalus species are known in Europe. Meanwhile, the family Peltidae has been included as subfamily Peltinae into Trogositidae. Thymalus limbatus is known to occur in North Africa and Europe. The eurytopic, mycetophilous species lives in deciduous and mixed forests, at the edges of forests and in parks, from the planar to the montane zone. The nocturnal beetles are saproxylic and feed on fungi on or under the bark of beech (Fagus), occasionally oak (Quercus), elm (Ulmus) and birch (Betula). In Germany, recent records are known from most Federal States. However, Thymalus limbatus is regarded as rare and vulnerable (RL 3). (CB)
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