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Genus Macrosiagon
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)
Genus Macrosiagon
Explanation of Names The genus name apparently means "large cheek" (or jaw), from macro- plus siagon biblical Greek (originally Hebrew?) jaw--see this photo for detail of mouthparts. (Based on Internet searches.) Numbers Arnett, p. 464, lists 9 species. (1)Identification Elytra long, covers most of abdomen. Thorax has projection covering scutellum. Usually colored black and orange. Female has very blunt abdomen, mostly serrate antennae. Male has more pointed abdomen, feathery antennae.
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. Rhipiphorus 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. Genus appears to be widespread in eastern United States. Also found into Mexico. Habitat Typically found on flowers. Food Adults take pollen and/or nectar? Life Cycle Internal parasites of wasps. Adults found on flowers, where females lay eggs. (Perhaps adults feed there as well.) Presumably mating occurs on flowers, since males are seen there as well. Eggs hatch into an active larva that attaches itself to visiting wasp. It is carried back to wasp nest where it burrows into a wasp larva and lives as an internal parasite.
Evans (3) lists hosts as twig-nesting Eumeninae (M. cruenta), Bembix (M. flavipennis), as well as Scoliidae, Tiphiidae (species not given). Print References Arnett, p. 464, fig. 24.155 (1)
Arnett et al., pp. 282-283, fig. 283-- Macrosiagon limbatum (2)
Evans, The Wasps, fig. 115, illustrates Macrosiagon flavipenne, discusses life histories, p. 236 (3).
Brimley, p. 161, lists 7 species of Macrosiagon for North Carolina. (4)
Taber, pp. 122-123, gives life history, fig.107--M. octomaculatum (5)
White, p. 268, gives size, life history. (6)Internet References North Carolina State University Entomology Collection lists 6 spp. for that state, with number pinned: cruentus (22), dimidiata (44), flavipennis (21), limbata (68), octomaculatus (7), pectinata (19). Works Cited | 2. | How to Know the Beetles
By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques | |
| 3. | The Wasps
By Howard Ensign Evans, Mary Jane West Eberhard | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 5 January, 2005 - 4:38am Last updated 2 August, 2007 - 9:26am |
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