Xyloperthini

Xyloperthini

Classification

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Xyloperthini: /ksaɪləˈpɜːrθɪnaɪ/

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

Images

Xylobiops basilaris 170165601 by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Xylopsocus capucinus (lateral view) by Wisut Sittichaya, Roger A. Beaver, Lan-Yu Liu, Aran Ngampongsai. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.
Musée entomologique illustré (6008706708) by Bisson-Cottard (Firm); Depuiset, A.; Fischbach, Gustave; Poteau, J.; Quartley, J.; Rothschild, J.; Specht, Friedrich; Vizetelly, Henry. Used under a Public domain license.
Xylopsocus capucinus (dorsal view) by Wisut Sittichaya, Roger A. Beaver, Lan-Yu Liu, Aran Ngampongsai. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.
Xylomeira tridens by Sarah McCaffrey, Museum Victoria. Used under a CC BY 3.0 au license.
Xyloblaptus quadrispinosus by Clare McLellan, Museum Victoria. Used under a CC BY 3.0 au license.

Summary

Xyloperthini is a diverse tribe of horned powder-post beetles known for their role in wood decomposition and potential economic impact due to their wood-boring habits. With over 30 genera and a significant number of species described, they play a critical role in their ecosystems while also being monitored for pest control.

Physical Characteristics

Large body size with distinctive horn-like structures in some species.

Identification Tips

Look for powdery frass around wood where these beetles are found; many species exhibit unique horn structures.

Habitat

Typically found in wood habitats, especially in decaying or damaged wood.

Distribution

Found globally, though primarily in temperate and tropical regions.

Diet

Larvae primarily feed on wood, including both living and dead trees.

Life Cycle

Undergo complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Reproduction

Females lay eggs in wood, and larvae hatch and bore into the wood, feeding as they grow.

Predators

Birds, predatory beetles, and other insects may prey upon adults and larvae.

Ecosystem Role

Function as decomposers by breaking down wood materials, contributing to nutrient cycling.

Economic Impact

Can cause damage to wooden structures and products, making them relevant in pest control contexts.

Collecting Methods

  • Visual search in infested wood
  • Traps using pheromones

Preservation Methods

  • Drying specimens
  • Ethanol preservation
  • Pinned specimens

Evolution

Xyloperthini is part of a larger evolutionary lineage of wood-boring beetles that adapted to life in wood substrates.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Often confused with other wood-boring beetles; some species are not harmful to live trees.

Tags

  • beetles
  • Xyloperthini
  • wood-boring insects
  • Bostrichidae