''Metaxyphloeus'' is a genus of
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s in the family
Laemophloeidae
Laemophloeidae, "lined flat bark beetles," is a family in the superfamily Cucujoidea characterized by predominantly dorso-ventrally compressed bodies, head and pronotal discs bordered by ridges or grooves, and inverted male genitalia. Size range ...
. It belongs to a small group of rostrate laemophloeid genera endemic to the New World. Members of ''Metaxyphloeus'' range from southern Texas south to Bolivia. Related rostrate genera are ''Rhinomalus'' and ''Rhinophloeus''. Adults are moderate-sized laemophloeids (~2 mm) characterized by their prolonged heads, open procoxal cavities, an acuminate intercoxal process on the first visible abdominal ventrite, antennal club of six antennomeres, and male genitalia lacking a dorsal piece of the tegmen.
[Thomas, M. C. 1984. A new Neotropical genus and species of rostrate Laemophloeinae (Coleoptera: Cucujidae), with discussion of the systematic position of the subfamily. The Coleopterists Bulletin 38: 67-83.] ''Metaxyphloeus'' adults are dark brown or black, shining, with or without dorsal pubescence, and with one or two pairs of pale elytral maculae. Their biology and immature stages are unknown. Adults may be attracted to light in forest habitats. The function of the
rostrum
Rostrum may refer to:
* Any kind of a platform for a speaker:
**dais
**pulpit
* Rostrum (anatomy), a beak, or anatomical structure resembling a beak, as in the mouthparts of many sucking insects
* Rostrum (ship), a form of bow on naval ships
* Ros ...
is unknown.
The five included species are:
* ''Metaxyphloeus germaini''
(Grouvelle)
* ''Metaxyphloeus signatus''
(Sharp)
* ''Metaxyphloeus texanus''
(Schaeffer)
* ''Metaxyphloeus vicinus''
(Grouvelle)
* ''Metaxyphloeus zeus''
Thomas
References
External links
iNaturalist
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6823331
Laemophloeidae