Melanophila

Melanophila is a genus of buprestid beetles commonly known as fire beetles. They have extraordinary sensitivity to infrared radiation (heat), using a specialized sensor organ near their legs. They seek out fires in order to mate and lay eggs in freshly burned wood.

Species
The genus Melanophila consists of the following species:


 * Melanophila acuminata (DeGeer, 1774)
 * Melanophila atra Gory, 1841
 * Melanophila atropurpurea (Say, 1823)
 * Melanophila caudata (Laporte & Gory, 1837)
 * Melanophila consputa LeConte, 1857
 * Melanophila cockerellae Wickham, 1912
 * Melanophila coriacea Kerremans, 1894
 * Melanophila cuspidata (Klug, 1829)
 * Melanophila gestroi Obenberger, 1923
 * Melanophila handlirschi Wickham, 1912
 * Melanophila heeri Wickham, 1914
 * Melanophila ignicola Champion, 1918
 * Melanophila notata (Laporte & Gory, 1837)
 * Melanophila obscurata Lewis, 1893
 * Melanophila occidentalis Obenberger, 1928
 * Melanophila unicolor Gory, 1841