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Family Ripiphoridae - Wedge-shaped Beetles
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Tenebrionoidea (Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles)
Family Ripiphoridae (Wedge-shaped Beetles)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Rhipiphoridae Explanation of Names Named after the genus Ripiphorus--see that guide page for origin of name. Numbers Arnett, p. 463, lists six genera and 44 species. (1)
nearctica.com lists six genera and 47 species for North America.
Subfamily Ripiphorinae contains tribes Macrosiagonini (includes genus Macrosiagon) and Ripiphorini (includes genus Ripiphorus). Subfamily Ripidiinae contains genus Ripidius, see Beetles of Florida. Identification Small to medium-sized beetles, sometimes found on flowers. Similar to Tumbling Flower Beetles, but have fan-like ( flabellate) antennae, esp. in males. Abdomen blunt. Tarsal formula 5-5-4 (rear legs with 4 tarsomeres, others with 5).
In eastern North America, there appear to be three widespread genera of wedge-shaped beetles. Macrosiagon has long elytra, covering abdomen, and a point of the thorax covering the scutellum. Species are usually orange/yellow and black. Some species are medium-sized, circa 9 mm. Ripiphorus has very short elytra, and most(?) species are smaller, circa 4-6 mm. Pelecotoma flavipes has full-length elytra, is small, 4-5 mm. It is piceous-black with yellowish antennae and legs. (2)Range North America. Macrosiagon (10 species) and Ripiphorus (30 species) are widespread in eastern North America. Pelecotoma flavipes is found in southeast. Other genera are found in southwest. Habitat Fields, etc. with flowers. Food Adults found on flowers, so perhaps take pollen and/or nectar, though they also leave eggs on flowers. Life Cycle Life cycle is hypermetamorphic. Parasites on bees or wasps, or, (in tropics?) cockroaches. Specifically, members of subfamily Ripiphorinae parasitize wasps (tribe Macrosiagonini, wasps, tribe Ripiphorini, bees). Subfamily Ripidiinae parasitizes cockroaches. Eggs are laid on or near flowers, sometimes inside unopened flower buds. Larvae attach to visiting bees and are taken back to nest, where they are internal parasites of larval hymenoptera, in some cases only in early stages. (In tropics, some species are parasites of cockroaches.) Some are reported to feed on leaves in later stages. Adults have short lifespan, aren't seen too frequently. Remarks Judging by the images on BugGuide as of January, 2005, Macrosiagon is the most frequently encountered/photographed genus in eastern North America. Perhaps this is due to its fairly large size, typically circa 9 mm. Print References Arnett, pp. 463-464, fig. 24.155-- Macrosiagon (1)
Arnett et al, pp. 282-283, gives key to Macrosiagon versus Ripiphorus, has illustrations. (2)
White, pp. 268-269, fig. 116-- Ripiphorus, has good discussion of life history (3)
Brimley, p. 161, lists Macrosiagon (7 spp.) and Ripiphorus (3spp.) for North Carolina. (4)
Gordh, p. 782, discusses life history. (5)
Evans, The Wasps, pp. 235-237, discusses life history. (6)Internet References Ripiphorus fasciatus (Say)--account of a species and the family, with photos.
North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists 3 genera: Macrosiagon (6 spp. from NC), Pelecotoma (1 sp. from NC), and Ripiphorus (3 spp. from NC).
Checklist of the Beetles of Florida lists Macrosiagon (8 spp.), Ripiphorus (2 spp.), and Ripidius (1 sp., a new US record for genus, and possibly subfamily Ripidiinae).
Works Cited | 2. | How to Know the Beetles
By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques | |
| 5. | A Dictionary of Entomology
By George Gordh, David H. Headrick | |
| 6. | The Wasps
By Howard Ensign Evans, Mary Jane West Eberhard | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 5 July, 2004 - 6:33pm Additional contributions by Chuck EntzLast updated 2 October, 2007 - 8:42am |
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