Triungulinid
Guides
Macrosiagon
wedge-shaped beetles
Macrosiagon is a genus of wedge-shaped beetles (family Ripiphoridae) containing more than 20 described species. Species in this genus are parasitoids of wasps and bees. First-instar larvae (triungulinids) exhibit phoretic behavior, attaching to host insects for transport. The genus has a broad distribution spanning the Nearctic, Neotropical, Palaearctic, Oriental, and Afrotropical regions.
Macrosiagon octomaculata
Macrosiagon octomaculata is a ripiphorid beetle species known to be a parasitoid of wasps and bees. The species exhibits a complex life cycle involving triungulinid larvae that use phoretic transport on host insects to reach their ultimate hosts. First accurately recorded from southern Brazil, specifically Santa Catarina Island, where it was found associated with the eriocaulaceous plant Paepalanthus polyanthus in restinga habitat. The species represents one of the few documented cases of Ripiphoridae utilizing an Eriocaulaceae species for reproductive biology.