Family Pleocomidae - Rain Beetles

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Range · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Pleocoma Blaisdelli - Pleocoma blaisdelli - male

Pleocoma Carinata - Pleocoma carinata - male

Pleocoma dubitabilis leachi - Pleocoma dubitabilis - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)

Family Pleocomidae (Rain Beetles)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Another group that was until recently treated as a subfamily of the Scarabaeidae.

Explanation of Names

Pleocoma is derived from two Greek roots, "pleos" (full or abundant) and "kome" (hair) so roughly "very hairy".

Common name "rain beetles" is said to be from activity of adults after (typically) autumn/winter rains (Coleoptera.org, Generic Guide to New World Scarabs).

Numbers

Single genus with 34 spp.

Range

Western Coastal North America, from Southern Washington to northern Baja California, Mexico and Utah.

Food

Root feeders, Oak & Conifers

Remarks

Females are flightless.

Print References

American Beetles, Vol. 2, Chapter 28 (1)

Internet References

Generic Guide to New World Scarabs

Coleoptera.org

Wikipedia--Rain beetle

Black Rain Beetles, Pleocoma puncticollis, female above, male below [click image to access article].

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 21 January, 2006 - 12:13pm
Additional contributions by cotinis
Last updated 11 February, 2008 - 10:22am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version