Ptilocerembiidae

Definition

A family of webspinners (order Embioptera) established by Miller & Edgerly in 2012, distinguished by morphological features of the male genitalia and wing venation. Members of this family construct silk galleries in leaf litter, bark crevices, or rock piles and feed on decaying plant material.

Etymology

Example

Ptilocerembiidae species are found in Neotropical and Nearctic regions, where males of some species exhibit reduced wings compared to the fully winged females typical of many embiopteran families.

Related Terms

• Embioptera
• webspinner
• Anisembiidae
• Clothodidae
• embiid silk
• gallery construction

Usage Notes

A relatively recently described family whose diagnostic characters center on male genitalic structure and forewing venation patterns; phylogenetic placement within Embioptera continues to be refined with molecular data.