Andesembiidae

Definition

A family of webspinners (order Embioptera) distributed in the Andean region of South America. Members are small, gregarious insects that construct and inhabit silk galleries spun from silk glands on the forelegs. The family comprises at least two genera and approximately seven described species, distinguished from other embiopteran families by genital and wing-venation characters.

Etymology

From the Andes (geographic range) + Greek embia (living in) + -idae (family suffix), coined by Ross in 2003.

Example

Andesembia species in this family spin silk galleries under bark and stones in montane forests, with females typically apterous and males bearing two pairs of narrow, membranous wings.

Related Terms

• Embioptera
• webspinner
• silk gallery
• Apterous
• Anisembiidae
• Teratembiidae
• embiid

Usage Notes

Family rank is fixed; the family was established by Ross (2003) to accommodate Andean embiopterans previously placed in broader groupings. Distinguish from the superficially similar family name Anisembiidae (also in Embioptera but with different distribution and morphology).