Major Group: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Ptilodactylidae
Genus: Byrrocryptus
In Australia, this family contains a single semi-aquatic genus, Byrrocryptus. |
Descriptive Features:
Adults
antennae 11-segmented, no distinct club
prosternum in front of coxae as long as or shorter than intercoxal process
ventral portion of the notum, (hypomeron) on each side joined directly to the sternum by notosternal suture
pleuron reduced and concealed
elytra exposing less than 2 complete abdominal tergites
body finely pubescent
abdomen with at least 3 connate ventrites
mesocoxal cavities narrowly separated (by less than 0.4 times coxal width)
intercoxal process on ventrite 1 acute
tarsi simple
body length 1.5 X width
size: 5mm
Larvae
head prognathous or slightly declined
antennal length > ½ head width
apex of antennal segment 2 truncate
labrum separated from head capsule by complete suture
maxillary palp 4-segmented
postmentum divided longitudinally into 3 parts
mesal surface of mandibular base with brush of hairs or spines
maxillary articulating area present but more or less concealed behind expanded postmentum
spiracles biforous, with 2 parallel openings
stemmata closely clustered, sometimes fused into a single mass
cardines separated from each other by labium
ecdysial scar preszent
body elongate
legs 5-segmented, including claw
size: up to 15mm |
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Byrrocryptus larva |
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Byrrocryptus oblongus adult |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species
Byrrocryptus nigrinus Carter
Byrrocryptus oblongus Carter
Byrrocryptus serraticornis Carter
Byrrocryptus variegatus Carter |
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Distribution:
B. nigrinus Vic
B. oblongus NSW
B. serraticornis & B. variegatus Qld
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 10
Functional Feeding Group: shredders (larvae); terrestrial adults |
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Mt Wills Creek near Granite Flat, Vic |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Only the larvae of Byrrocryptus are aquatic. They are common amongst stones in rivers and creeks, especially where there is leaf litter and rotten wood. Byrrocryptus adults are terrestrial and are found in riparian foliage alongside streams and rivers.
Feeding ecology: Larvae feed on decaying plant matter, including wood.
Habit: Byrrocryptus adults are nocturnal.
Life history: |
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Information Sources: Lawrence & Britton 1991, Lawrence 1992, Watts 2002, Calder 1999d, Williams 1980
Key to Species: none
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