Chlorine-response

Guides

• Priacma serrata

  Priacma bleach beetle

  Priacma serrata is the sole extant species in the genus Priacma, a relict lineage of reticulated beetles in the family Cupedidae. Males are strongly attracted to the odor of bleach and other chlorine-based compounds, a unique behavioral trait that facilitates collection and study. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism, with females substantially larger than males and rarely encountered. Adult males possess non-functional digestive tracts and do not feed. Populations display episodic mass emergence events rather than continuous adult activity.

  CupedidaeArchostematarelict-speciessexual-dimorphismbleach-attractionchlorine-responseconiferous-forestwestern-North-Americanon-feeding-adultepisodic-emergencephylogenetic-relictX-ray-tomographyhead-morphologygregarious-flight