Dasytes caeruleus

Scientific profile

With an average body length of 8.17 mm and a mass of only 0.014 g, Dasytes caeruleus is a very small beetle. The body is relatively broad (2.46 mm across) and moderately rounded, with elytra measuring 4.51 mm long and 1.07 mm wide. The head is 1.20 mm long and 1.17 mm wide, bearing eyes 0.49 mm in length (eye area 0.13 mm²) and antennae that reach 1.93 mm. The mandibles are short and slender. Legs are proportioned typically for the genus, with hind femora 1.14 mm and hind tibiae 1.29 mm. The wings are well developed, spanning 6.50 mm in length and 13.14 mm² in area, resulting in a wing load of 1.09. A striking feature is the abundant hairiness: the dorsal abdomen is densely hairy (score 17.79), the pronotum is also heavily haired (14.82), and the ventral abdomen shows moderate hairiness (5.63), while the head is completely glabrous. The overall colouration is exceptionally pale, with a lightness value of 100.85. No sexual dimorphism has been recorded.