Cerocoma is a
Palearctic genus of
blister beetle, whose biology is poorly known.[1] As in other members of the family, these insects are
hypermetamorphic. Larval hosts of few species were described. Imagines show distinct
sexual dimorphism in the feeding apparatus and the antennae. All species in this genus have
aposematic colouration.
The
antennae are 9-segmented, and the
galea is modified into a sucking tube;
imagines feed on pollen and nectar of
Asteraceae and
Apiaceae plants. The
wings are well-developed, and the legs are long and slender.
Larvae of C. schreberi were found feeding on paralysed
mantids collected by Tachytes wasps.[2]
The genus is mostly Mediterranean in distribution, and encompasses about 27 species.[3]Fauna Europaea lists 13 species[4] The taxonomic division into two subgenera, Cerocoma and Metacerocoma (Kaszab, 1951) was considered unfounded by some authors.[5] Based on morphological and molecular analysis, Turco and Bologna subdivided the genus into five subgenera: Cerocoma, Cerocomina, Mesocerocoma, Metacerocoma and Meloides.[6]