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| Vesperidae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Superfamily: | Cerambycoidea |
| Family: | Vesperidae Mulsant, 1839 |
| Subfamilies | |
The Vesperidae Mulsant, 1839 are a small family of insects Cerambycoidea of heterogeneous aspect but all characterised by larval stages related to roots of herbaceous plants or trees
Morphology
Adult
The nocturnal adults are characterised by terreous brown-testaceous colours, brachypterous or apterous wings (especially in females) and physiogastry in females.
Some tropical genera (Pathocerus) have comb-like antennae, some other (Hypocephalus) extremely reduced antennae.
Some genera, such as the Brazilian Migdolus have well developed mandibles, such as the males of the cerambycids Parandra and Spondylis, while other ones, such as the males of the genus Hypocephalus have extremely modified mandibles.
Larva
The larvae have evolved some adaptations to the subterranean life.
In particular, the Mediterranean genus Vesperus have larvae characterised by a peculiar larval polymorphism.
The larvae I have a normal worm-like aspect (though characterised by abnormally long setae), while those of following stadia have a C-shaped aspect, which makes them similar to the larvae of Melolonthinae.
Systematics
The family includes 3 subfamilies:
- Anoplodermatinae Guérin-Méneville, 1840
- Philinae J.Thomson, 1860
- Vesperinae Mulsant, 1839
In the past, the Vesperini has been considered as a subfamily of Lepturinae, the Anoplodermatini as a subfamily of Prioninae and the Philini a mysterious group related to the Prioninae.
Afterwards, the peculiar larval characteristics of Vesperus has suggest to separate such tribe as subfamily and later as a distinct family.
Only in 1997 Švácha, Wang & Chen recognised and proved the morphological likeness among these three groups in the larval stadia.
No Vesperinae is present in the British Islands and in the Unites States.
References
- ŠVÁCHA P., WANG J. J. & CHEN S. C., 1997 Larval morphology and biology of Philus antennatus and Heterophilus punctulatus, and systematic position of the Philinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae and Vesperidae). Annales de la Societé entomologique de France (N. S.) 33 (3): 323-369.