Tenomerga

Neboiss, 1984

Tenomerga is a of in the , comprising approximately 14–17 extant . Species are distributed across the eastern Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. The genus has been subject to recent phylogenetic revision, with evidence suggesting T. leucophaea may warrant transfer to the genus Cupes, rendering Tenomerga polyphyletic as currently circumscribed.

Tenomerga cinerea by (c) Thomas Koffel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Thomas Koffel. Used under a CC-BY license.

Tenomerga cinerea by (c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman. Used under a CC-BY license.

Tenomerga cinerea by (c) ncb1221, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by ncb1221. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tenomerga: /tɛˈnɔmɛrɡə/

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

Identification

Tenomerga can be distinguished from other by larval characters shared with Rhipsideigma, including a transverse and laterally rounded , absence of , shortened , sternal asperities, lobes on abdominal IX, and a on IX. are with the characteristic -like elytral typical of the .

Images

Habitat

Wood; are wood-borers with musculature adapted for this habit.

Distribution

Eastern Palearctic, Nearctic, and Oriental regions. Specific records include Taiwan, Fujian, Hong Kong (China), and Vermont (USA).

Life Cycle

First possess posterodorsal and posteroventral cephalic emarginations, endocarina, reduced , cardinal , sclerotized prominent , reduced , tergal and sternal ampullae, and a strongly muscularized loop of the hind . Glands in the and have been reported in first instars. The cephalic is shifted to the due to small size, with three thoracic and eight abdominal in the postcephalic .

Behavior

Wood-boring habits in .

Similar Taxa

CupesT. leucophaea has been found to form a with Cupes capitatus, suggesting potential taxonomic overlap or need for reclassification.
RhipsideigmaForms a well-supported subgroup with Tenomerga based on shared larval including shape, structure, and abdominal IX features.

More Details

Phylogenetic uncertainty

The of is strongly supported, but interrelationships of remain largely unresolved. Reconstruction of and character evolution is impeded by scarcity of data on internal features and larval characters.

Mitochondrial genome

The complete mitochondrial of T. trabecula is 16,741 with 37 genes in ancestral arrangement and 76.8% A+T content; this was the first mitogenome reported for .