Malachius bipustulatus

Scientific profile

Malachius bipustulatus is a species of soft-winged flower beetle in the family Melyridae, recorded in Great Britain. Body length lies between 5.75 and 6.6 mm, with a mass of about 0.011 g. The head is 0.86 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, bearing eyes of 0.12 mm² area and antennae 3.3 mm long. Mandibles are 0.61 mm in length with a proximal width of 0.098 mm, giving a slender profile. The pronotum measures 1.2 mm long and 1.7 mm wide. Elytra are 3.9 mm long, and the wings extend to 6.5 mm with an area of 11.1 mm², yielding a wing load of 0.995 and an aspect ratio of 2.8. The body is somewhat rounded (roundness 0.76), 2.3 mm wide and 1.7 mm high. Hind femora are 1.9 mm and hind tibiae 2.2 mm in length. Hairiness measurements give 24.2 on the dorsal pronotum, 19.8 on the dorsal abdomen, 16.1 on the ventral abdomen and 11.1 on the dorsal head. Sexual dimorphism is absent (score 0.0), indicating similar sizes between the sexes.