Aptopus

Species within Aptopus can be distinguished from closely allied taxa by genitalial and morphological characteristics. Aptopus opata specifically exhibits: body lengthened, dark brown to blackish with dense punctuations; pronotal angles lengthened and pointed; scutellum with blackish spot-like marking; legs lengthened; aedeagus wider than long with broad base; lateral lobe parameres slightly bigonal with golden hairs at apex; median lobe parameres broad at base and rapidly narrowing apically with hair-like structures visible ventrally.

Documented from Sindh province, Pakistan (district Khairpur). The genus has also been recorded from Mexico (Sonora) and south-central Arizona (Huachuca Mountains).

In Sindh, Pakistan, Aptopus opata has been observed from March to October.

Aptopus opata has been described as an omnivore, feeding on maize crops, potatoes, tomatoes, germinating seeds, weeds, and small grasses.

• Zea mays - feeds onmaize crops
• Solanum tuberosum - feeds onpotatoes
• Solanum lycopersicum - feeds ontomatoes
• germinating seeds - feeds onunspecified species
• weeds - feeds onunspecified species
• small grasses - feeds onunspecified species

Larva is yellowish to brown in color. Larvae are referred to as wireworms, indicating soil-dwelling larval development typical of Elateridae.

Aptopus opata is considered a pest species causing significant damage to agricultural crops. Granular insecticides applied at planting time have been used to prevent wireworm damage.

• Closely allied Cardiophorini generaDifferentiated by genitalial morphology and specific body proportions including aedeagus shape and paramere structure

• BugGuide
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• FIRST RECORD ON HOST PLANTS AND TAXONOMICAL DESCRIPTION ON Aptopus opata (ELATERIDAE: CARDIOPHORINAE: CARDIOPHORINI) FROM SINDH PAKISTAN