Adephaga

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Adephaga

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Adephaga: //əˈdɛfəɡə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Calosoma scrutator P1610975a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Calosoma scrutator P1030237a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Calosoma luxatum - inat 202340540 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Calosoma scrutator by David R. Maddison. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Calosoma wilcoxi P1590355a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Reitter-1908 table10 by Edmund Reitter
. Used under a Public domain license.

Summary

Adephaga is a suborder of beetles comprising more than 40,000 known species, characterized by their predatory behavior and various adaptations to both terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Recognized by certain anatomical traits and a complex chemical gland system, they are significant contributors to ecological balance.

Physical Characteristics

Adephagans have simple antennae without pectination or clubs, and the galeae of the maxillae usually consist of two segments. Adult adephagans exhibit visible notopleural sutures and have five segments on each foot. The first visible abdominal sternum is completely separated by the hind coxae, which is a key identifying feature.

Identification Tips

An easily recognizable trait of adephagans is the complete separation of the first visible abdominal sternum from the hind coxae. Identification may also involve examining the structure of the pygidial glands and the presence of certain features such as the transverse fold of the hind wing near the wing tip.

Habitat

Habitat diversity ranges from caves to rainforest canopies and alpine environments. Specific adaptations allow some species to thrive in unique habitats, such as the Gyrinidae living at the air-water interface, and Rhysodinae inhabiting heartwood.

Distribution

Adephagans are distributed worldwide, with 11 extant families recorded globally.

Diet

Most adephagans are predators, although some species exhibit less typical feeding habits including algae-eating (Haliplidae), seed-feeding (Harpaline carabids), fungus-feeding (Rhysodinae), and ectoparasitism (brachinine and lebiine carabids).

Life Cycle

The life cycle varies among species; some are ovoviviparous, while larvae are active with a well-chitinized cuticle, elongated cerci, and five-segmented legs with two claws per foot-segment.

Reproduction

Reproductive strategies include the presence of ovoviviparous species. Larvae have specific morphological characteristics aiding in identification.

Ecosystem Role

Adephagans play crucial roles as predators within their ecosystems, influencing population dynamics of their prey.

Evolution

Adephagans diverged from their sister group in the Late Permian, with the most recent common ancestor of living adephagans likely existing in the early Triassic, around 240 million years ago. Their evolutionary history includes significant diversification during the Mesozoic and Tertiary periods.