Invertebrates
Harlequin Beetle
Acrocinus longimanus · also called harlequin longhorn beetle
Gripping a rival with front legs longer than its own body, a male harlequin beetle defends its spot on a fungus-covered rainforest tree, its orange, black, and grey mottling blending so closely with the surrounding lichen that it nearly disappears against the bark.
Overview
The harlequin beetle, Acrocinus longimanus, is native to rainforest habitat across parts of Central and South America. Its dramatically elongated male front legs, lichen-mimicking pattern, and habit of hosting hitchhiking pseudoscorpions make it one of the most visually striking and ecologically interesting longhorn beetles in the Americas.
A tree-trunk ecosystem of its own
The harlequin beetle’s life revolves almost entirely around the fungus-covered trees it calls home, a single microhabitat that supplies its food, its camouflage, its mating grounds, and even transport for the small hitchhikers that travel along with it between trees.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status, found across suitable rainforest habitat throughout its range.
Harlequin Beetle: common questions
Why does the male harlequin beetle have such long front legs?
Its front legs, which can exceed the length of its own body, are used to grip rival males during disputes over territory or mates and to hold onto a female securely while mating.
Why does the harlequin beetle have such an unusual mottled pattern?
Its orange, black, and grey mottling closely resembles the lichen and fungus covering the tree trunks where it lives, helping it blend into that specific background.
Why do pseudoscorpions sometimes ride on a harlequin beetle?
Small pseudoscorpions hitch a ride on the beetle to reach fresh fungal habitat on a new tree, a relationship that may benefit the beetle in turn by helping control mites on its body.
Where is the harlequin beetle found?
It is native to rainforest habitat across parts of Central and South America.