Archostematan-beetle
Guides
Cupes capitatus
Prominent-headed Reticulated Beetle
Cupes capitatus is the sole extant species in the genus Cupes, a relict lineage within the family Cupedidae. Described by Fabricius in 1801, this beetle represents one of the few living members of an ancient group of beetles with distinctive reticulated wing covers. Its restricted distribution in eastern North America and its phylogenetic isolation make it of particular interest for studies of beetle evolution and biogeography.