Orthostethus pectinicornis

Orthostethus pectinicornis is a of click beetle in the Elateridae. The specific epithet "pectinicornis" refers to the comb-like (pectinate) characteristic of males in this species, a trait shared with other members of the . Click beetles are named for their ability to right themselves when overturned by flexing a prosternal spine into a mesosternal groove, producing an audible clicking sound and propelling the into the air.

Orthostethus pectinicornis by (c) Andrew Meeds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Meeds. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Orthostethus pectinicornis: /ɔrˈθɒs.tɛθ.əs ˌpɛk.tɪˈnɪ.kɔːr.nɪs/

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Identification

Distinguished from similar click beetles by the male's pectinate . The Orthostethus is characterized by this antennal form. Can be separated from Cladius pectinicornis (a with similar name and male antennae) by body form: beetles have hardened forewings () meeting in a straight line down the back, while sawflies have two pairs of membranous wings and a constricted waist.

Images

Appearance

are typical click beetles with elongated, somewhat flattened bodies. Males possess distinctive pectinate (comb-like) with long lateral branches, while females have simpler, serrate or antennae. The body is generally brown or black in coloration. Larvae are wireworms—elongated, cylindrical, and hardened, with reduced legs.

Distribution

North America; specific range details are poorly documented in available sources.

Behavior

exhibit the characteristic click mechanism of Elateridae: a prosternal process engages with a mesosternal groove to produce a sudden flexion that rights the or propels it away from danger.

Similar Taxa

Cladius pectinicornisSimilar specific epithet and males also have pectinate , but this is a (Hymenoptera), not a . Distinguished by order-level traits: sawflies have membranous wings and lack .
Other Orthostethus speciesShare pectinate male and general body plan; -level identification requires detailed examination of morphological characters.

More Details

Nomenclature note

The specific epithet "pectinicornis" (comb-horned) directly describes the male's structure. This creates potential confusion with the Cladius pectinicornis (now often treated as Cladius difformis), which shares both the name and the pectinate male antennae trait, though the two are unrelated beyond convergent antennal evolution.