Toed-winged beetles

Code QC399999

A family of Polyphaga - the large suborder of beetles in which the prothoracic pleuron is entirely concealed and the hind coxae are motile.

Ptilodactylidae are small to medium-size (2.5-8.5 mm), rather elongate, hairy beetles with a deflexed head (visible from above) and moderately long, 11-segmented antennae. The pronotum carries sharp lateral carinae. The back edge of the pronotum is crenulate, locking with crenulations on the elytra and scutellum. The scutellum always has a prominent central notch. The elytra often are striated, and the pronotal lateral carinae usually are anteriorly incomplete.

Australian Ptilodactylidae (Polyphaga, placed in Byrrhoidea by Australian authors, Dryopoidea by American authors) includes 15 species, both terrestrial and aquatic. The aquatic species are referred to genus Byrrocryptus, and occur along the east coast. Larvae feed on decaying plant material including wood. Two other genera occur which are terrestrial and associated with rotting wood or leaf litter.

Reference:

Lawrence, J.F. and Britton, E.B. (1991) Coleoptera. pp. 543-683. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.