Genus Ptilodactyla

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Remarks · Works Cited

Two brown, hairy beetles - Ptilodactyla - male - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Elateriformia)

Superfamily Byrrhoidea

Family Ptilodactylidae (Toe-winged Beetles)

Subfamily Ptilodactylinae

Genus Ptilodactyla

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

badly needs revision; reviewed by Johnson and Freytag (1982)(1)

Explanation of Names

Ptilodactyla Illiger 1807

Numbers

9 described spp. in our area (two reach Canada), >360 worldwide(2)

Size

4-6 mm

Identification

Male antennomeres 4-10 each with a basal process that is as long as the segment. Pronotum granulate-punctate, with denticulate basal margin. Scutellum heart-shaped, notched anteriorly. Elytra feebly striate; intervals densely punctate.(3)

The antennae of females are serrate.

Species identification based almost exclusively on male genitalia and requires dissection

Key to several spp. in Ciegler (2003)(4)

Range

worldwide; most of e. NA west to MB-TX(2)

Remarks

common at lights

Works Cited

1.	A review of the species of Ptilodactyla in the United States with descriptions of three new species (Coleoptera:Ptilodactylidae) Victor Johnson and Paul Freytag. 1982. Entomological News, Vol 93, pp 129-135.

2.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.). 2002. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.

3.	The Beetles of Northeastern North America, Vol. 1 and 2. Downie, N.M., and R.H. Arnett. 1996. The Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, FL.

4.	Water Beetles of South Carolina Janet Ciegler. 2003. Clemson University.

Contributed by Stephen_WV on 19 February, 2006 - 4:35am
Additional contributions by cotinis, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 24 August, 2022 - 12:21am

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