Xylophilus luniger
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Superfamily:
Tenebrionoidea
Family:
Aderidae
Genus:
Xylophilus
Species:
X. luniger
Binomial name
Xylophilus luniger

Xylophilus luniger is a beetle that is endemic to New Zealand. This member of the family Aderidae is commonly collected by beating vegetation around the margins of native forest. The species has been collected in the North Island only.[2]

Taxonomy

This species was described by the British entomologist George Champion in 1916.[2] X. luniger is one of at least 9 species found in the genus Xylophilus in New Zealand.[3]

In males of Xylophilus luniger, antennomeres 7-9 are highly modified.

Biology

The adult beetle is 1.33-1.66 millimetres in length and 0.6-0.8 millimetres in width.[2]

Xylophilus luniger is sexually dimorphic; many male members of the genus Xylophilus have strangely modified antennae while females have unmodified straight antennae.[2] In males of Xylophilus luniger, antennomeres 7-9 are highly modified.[2]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xylophilus luniger.
Wikispecies has information related to Xylophilus luniger.
  1. ↑ "Xylophilus luniger Champion, 1916". New Zealand Organisms Register. Landcare Research New Zealand. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Champion, George Charles (1 August 1916). "I. On new or little-known Xylophilidae". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 64 (1): 1–64. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1916.tb03119.x. ISSN 1365-2311.
  3. ↑ Watt, J.C. 1982: 1981 presidential address. New Zealand beetles. New Zealand entomologist, 7(3): 213–221.
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