Enigmatic-taxonomy
Guides
Brachypsectridae
Texas beetles
Brachypsectridae is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Elateroidea, commonly known as Texas beetles. The family contains two extant genera—Brachypsectra (cosmopolitan in arid regions) and Asiopsectra (Central Asia and Middle East)—plus several fossil genera from Cretaceous amber. Adults are small, soft-bodied beetles lacking the functional prothoracic clicking mechanism typical of related elateroids. Larvae are highly distinctive ambush predators with flattened bodies and feathery lateral lobes.
Tanaupodidae
Tanaupodidae is a family of mites in the order Trombidiformes, suborder Parasitengona, considered to form one of the basal clades of this group. The family is considered enigmatic due to limited knowledge of its biology and diversity. Larvae of at least some genera are parasitic on arthropod hosts, including aphids and springtails. The family includes approximately 13 genera, with fossil records from Baltic amber indicating an ancient evolutionary history.