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PTILODACTYLIDAE
Author: John F. Lawrence, 2001. |
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Suborder Polyphaga, Series Elateriformia, Superfamily Byrrhoidea. |
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Antenae with 11 segments, filiform or serrate or pectinate. Antennal insertions exposed. Visible portion of procoxa transverse with the trochantin at least partly exposed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae separated by less than 0.4 X coxal width, with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 5-5-5 or 5-5-5 but tarsomere 4 reduced and concealed at base of lobe on 3 (pseudotetramerous). Number of ventrites 5 with 3 connate. Body length 2.5-15 mm. Body oblong to elongate, glabrous or pubescent. Antennae often with articulated appendages. Tarsi with lobes on 1-4 or on 3 only, claws simple or toothed. Posterior margin of prothorax usually crenulate and scutellum often notched anteriorly. |
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Ptilodactylidae usually have a characteristic prothorax which is broad posteriorly and narrowed anteriorly, with the lateral margins reduced anteriorly or completely absent; also there is usually a complex prothoracic interlocking mechanism involving crenulations (first figure). Here are three Central American genera. Note that Aploglossa (third figure) looks similar to Cneoglossa- both appear to be mimics of Lampyridae. Ptilodactyla and its relatives (last figure) are distinguished by having articulated processes on the male antenna. |
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Anchytarsus, Aploglossa, Chaetodactyla, Chelonariomorphus, Cladotoma, Lomechon, Octoglossa, Ptilodactyla, Stirophora.... |
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| Crenulate prothoracic interlocking mechanism |
Telon |
Aploglossa |
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| Ptilodactyla |
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