Mordellinae is a subfamily of beetles commonly known as tumbling flower beetles for the typical irregular movements they make when escaping predators, or as pintail beetles due to their abdominal tip which aids them in performing these tumbling movements.[1]

Mordellinae
Mordella aculeata; note the "pintail"
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Mordellidae
Subfamily: Mordellinae
Latreille, 1802
Mordellistena cervicalis.

Tribe and genera

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References

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  1. ^ Mordellidae Species List at Joel Hallan’s Biology Catalog. Texas A&M University, archived from the original on 7 October 2014, retrieved 8 August 2015
  2. ^ Horák, Jan; Farkac, Jan; Nakládal, Oto (2012). "Mordellidae (Coleoptera) from Socotra Island" (PDF). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 52 (supplementum 2). Musei Nationalis Pragae: 253–268. ISSN 0374-1036. Retrieved 5 February 2013.