Ctenodactylini

Tribe distinguished by larval character states including features shared between Askalaphium depressum and Leptotrachelus dorsalis; adult morphology consistent with Ctenodactylinae subfamily.

Specialized microhabitats including appressed leaf axils of riparian vegetation; at least one species occupies riverside reed Gynerium sagittatum in Amazonian riparian zones.

Neotropical; documented from Amazonian Perú with likely broader range approaching that of host plant Gynerium sagittatum (subtropical South America to México and Florida).

• Gynerium sagittatum (Caña Brava reed) - microhabitat hostAppressed leaf axils provide specialized habitat for at least Askalaphium depressum
• Cephaloleia - prey/associated speciesHispine chrysomelid beetles; larvae are prey for at least one ctenodactyline species

Larval development includes at least second and third instars; larval morphology provides diagnostic tribal characters.

Predators within confined plant microhabitats; commensal carabids in riparian reed ecosystems.

• Other Ctenodactylinae tribesLarval character states distinguish Ctenodactylini; adult morphology may overlap with related tribes in subfamily.
• Leptotrachelus dorsalisRelated ctenodactyline species sharing larval character states that define tribal diagnosis; used as comparative basis for tribe characterization.

• tribe
• larval morphology
• commensal
• riparian
• Neotropical

• BugGuide
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• The Neotropical species Askalaphium depressum (Bates): Larval description, first diagnosis and illustrations of immature Ctenodactylini, with natural history notes on the genus and tribe (Coleoptera: Carabidae)