Mandibulate
Guides
Micropterigidae
mandibulate archaic moths
Micropterigidae is the sole family in the superfamily Micropterigoidea and suborder Zeugloptera, representing the most primitive extant lineage of Lepidoptera. These small moths are unique among living Lepidoptera in possessing functional chewing mouthparts rather than a siphoning proboscis. Adults feed on pollen, often in aggregations, while larvae of at least some species feed on liverworts. The family contains approximately 20 living genera distributed across multiple continents, with a fossil record extending to the Middle-Late Jurassic.
Micropterigoidea
Mandibulate Archaic Moths
Micropterigoidea is a superfamily of moths containing a single family, Micropterigidae, with approximately 20 living genera. These insects are considered the most primitive extant lineage of Lepidoptera, retaining ancestral characteristics lost in other moth groups. They are commonly called "mandibulate archaic moths" due to their retention of functional chewing mandibles in the adult stage—a trait absent in nearly all other Lepidoptera.
Rhagonycha mandibularis
Bigjaw Soldier Beetle
Rhagonycha mandibularis is a species of soldier beetle in the family Cantharidae, commonly known as the Bigjaw Soldier Beetle. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, and Labrador) and the United States. The species is characterized by notably enlarged mandibles, particularly in males, which give rise to its common name. As with other cantharids, adults are likely active on flowers and vegetation during the warmer months.