MELOIDAE

Author: John F. Lawrence.

Classification

Suborder Polyphaga, Series Cucujiformia, Superfamily Tenebrionoidea.

Description

Antenae with 11 segments, filiform or moniliform or serrate. Antennal insertions exposed. Visible portion of procoxa projecting bellow prosternum with the trochantin concealed or at least partly exposed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae contigous, with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 5-5-4. Number of ventrites 6 without ventrites connate. Body length 7-25 mm. Elongate, slender or stout, pubescent or glabrous, soft-bodied, often brightly colored. Head declined and abruptly constricted posteriorly forming narrow neck. Sides of prothorax rounded, without sharp margins. Tarsal claws simple or pectinate, with blade-like process arising from base of each claw.

Quick identification

Meloidae have a characteristic head, which is deflexed and abruptly narrowed to form a neck; the prothorax usually lacks lateral margins and the tarsal claws are usually pectinate with a process beneath each claw.

Genera occurring in Costa Rica

Meloinae: Epicauta, Lytta, Meloe, Pyrota.
Nemognathinae: Cissites, Meloetyphlus, Nemognatha, Pseudozonitis, Rhyphonemognatha, Tetraonyx, Zonitis.

© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Meloinae (Epicauta)	© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Nemognathinae (Cissites)	© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Nemognathinae (Tetraonyx)