THROSCIDAE

Author: John F. Lawrence.

Classification

Suborder Polyphaga, Series Elateriformia, Superfamily Elateroidea.

Description

Antenae with 11 segments and a 3 segments club. Antennal insertions exposed or concealed. Visible portion of procoxa globular with the trochantin concealed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae separated by 0.4 to more than 1 coxal width, with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 5-5-5. Numberof ventrites 5 with 5 connate. Body length 1.6-4 mm. Oblong to elongate, pubescent, somewhat elaterid-like, with well-developed metacoxal plates and free labrum.

Quick identification

Throscidae contains several small, short and broad, densely pubescent elateroids with an exposed labrum, but differing from most elaterids in having the prothorax and pterothorax-elytra fitting more tightly together than in elaterids.

Genera occurring in Costa Rica

Aulonothroscus, Trixagus.

© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Aulonothroscus	© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Trixagus	© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Elaterid head with free labrum