Disteniidae
Encyclopedia
The Disteniidae are a small family
of beetle
s in the superfamily Chrysomeloidea
, traditionally treated as a group within the Cerambycidae (most resembling certain Lepturinae
such as the genus Stenocorus, but having long fine antennae
and sometimes metallic colours).
aspect, having like those (except for a small number of cases) a divided stridulatory area. Nevertheless, the head is extremely short, the mandibles are strongly bowed and the anterior coxae are globular. The antennae
are long, nearly filiform
in most of the genera, and bearing very long setae in the Malagasy
genus Nethinius.
l morphology, because they have the prosternal skin attached to the base of the submentum, rather than with the gula such as all other Cerambycidae. For nearly all other aspects, they are very similar to the larvae of Lepturinae
.
, includes more than 300 species, widespread in all regions of the Southern Hemisphere
, while much less common in the Northern Hemisphere
. In particular, only a few species occur in North America
and none are present in Europe
. In contrast, Madagascar
is extremely rich in species, especially of the endemic genus Nethinius.
and attack wood or roots of broad-leaf trees.
, when the group included all cerambicidi known at that time except for Lamiinae
and Prioninae
. LeConte
& Horn
(1883) included them in the Lepturinae
, even noticing their peculiar primitivism. Gahan considered them as a subfamily suggesting that this group should deserve the elevation to family
rank. This statement was formalised by Linsley in 1961, accepted by many subsequent authors and only seldom contested.
The family
is composed by 4 subfamilies:
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
of beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s in the superfamily Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomeloidea is an enormous superfamily of beetles. There are tens of thousands of species, mostly in the families Cerambycidae and Chrysomelidae, the leaf beetles.-Overview:...
, traditionally treated as a group within the Cerambycidae (most resembling certain Lepturinae
Lepturinae
Lepturinae is a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family , containing some 100 genera worldwide, and most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere. Until recently the subfamily Necydalinae was included within the lepturines, but this has been recently recognized as a separate subfamily...
such as the genus Stenocorus, but having long fine antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
and sometimes metallic colours).
Adult
The adults have a lepturoidLepturinae
Lepturinae is a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family , containing some 100 genera worldwide, and most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere. Until recently the subfamily Necydalinae was included within the lepturines, but this has been recently recognized as a separate subfamily...
aspect, having like those (except for a small number of cases) a divided stridulatory area. Nevertheless, the head is extremely short, the mandibles are strongly bowed and the anterior coxae are globular. The antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
are long, nearly filiform
Filiform
Filiform can refer to:*Filiform, a common term used in botany to described leaf shapes.*Filiform papilla on the tongue.*Thread-like crystal formations*A corrosion mechanism...
in most of the genera, and bearing very long setae in the Malagasy
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
genus Nethinius.
Larva
The major differences are in the larvaLarva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
l morphology, because they have the prosternal skin attached to the base of the submentum, rather than with the gula such as all other Cerambycidae. For nearly all other aspects, they are very similar to the larvae of Lepturinae
Lepturinae
Lepturinae is a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family , containing some 100 genera worldwide, and most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere. Until recently the subfamily Necydalinae was included within the lepturines, but this has been recently recognized as a separate subfamily...
.
Distribution
This family, original from GondwanaGondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
, includes more than 300 species, widespread in all regions of the Southern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
, while much less common in the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
. In particular, only a few species occur in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and none are present in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. In contrast, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
is extremely rich in species, especially of the endemic genus Nethinius.
Biology
The adults have mostly nocturnal behaviour; some species (Nethinius) may be collected beating plants where they live. The fact that several specimens have been collected with mutilated legs and antennae suggests the existence of an aggressive character and of infra-specific fights for females. The larvae are xylophagousXylophagy
Xylophagy is a term used in ecology to describe the habits of an herbivorous animal whose diet consists primarily of wood. The word derives from Greek ξυλοφάγος "eating wood", from ξύλον "wood" and φαγεῖν "to eat", an ancient Greek name for a kind of a worm-eating bird...
and attack wood or roots of broad-leaf trees.
Systematics
The Disteniidae were inserted in Cerambycides by Jean Théodore LacordaireJean Théodore Lacordaire
Théodore Lacordaire or Jean Théodore Lacordaire was a Belgian entomologist of French extraction....
, when the group included all cerambicidi known at that time except for Lamiinae
Lamiinae
Lamiinae, commonly called flat-faced longhorns, are a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family . The subfamily includes over 750 genera, rivaled in diversity within the family only by the subfamily Cerambycinae.-Tribes:...
and Prioninae
Prioninae
Prioninae are a subfamily of Cerambycidae . They are typically large and usually brown or black. The males of a few genera sport large mandibles that are used in fights with other males, similar to stag beetles. These beetles are commonly nocturnal and are attracted to light...
. LeConte
John Lawrence LeConte
John Lawrence LeConte was the most important American entomologist of the 19th century, responsible for naming and describing approximately half of the insect taxa known in the United States during his lifetime, including some 5,000 species of beetles...
& Horn
George Henry Horn
George Henry Horn was a U.S. entomologist who specialized in the study of beetles.Born in Philadelphia, Horn attended the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with a degree in medicine in 1861...
(1883) included them in the Lepturinae
Lepturinae
Lepturinae is a subfamily of the longhorn beetle family , containing some 100 genera worldwide, and most diverse in the Northern Hemisphere. Until recently the subfamily Necydalinae was included within the lepturines, but this has been recently recognized as a separate subfamily...
, even noticing their peculiar primitivism. Gahan considered them as a subfamily suggesting that this group should deserve the elevation to family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
rank. This statement was formalised by Linsley in 1961, accepted by many subsequent authors and only seldom contested.
The family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
is composed by 4 subfamilies:
- Cyrtonopini White, 1853
- Disteniini Thomson, 1860
- Dynamostini Lacordaire, 1869
- Heteropalpini Villiers, 1980