Urogomphi
Guides
Cibdelis
Cibdelis is a genus of darkling beetles in the subfamily Stenochiinae, distributed in the Nearctic region. The genus includes at least one well-documented species, Cibdelis blaschkei, which inhabits forested regions of California. Larvae and pupae develop in soft, rotten, dry wood of dead branches on living trees or recently fallen sections. Both life stages possess antipredator defense structures, including urogomphi (pinching organs) on the terminal abdominal segments.
Cibdelis blaschkei
Cibdelis blaschkei is a North American darkling beetle in the subfamily Stenochiinae. The immature stages were first described in 2014, revealing distinctive defensive structures and saproxylic ecology. The species inhabits forested regions of California, where larvae develop in soft rotten dry wood of dead branches. Both larvae and pupae possess urogomphi—abdominal armature that can be raised and curved forward as antipredator defenses. The complete life cycle has been documented through rearing adults from pupae with associated larval exuvia.
Glyptotus
Glyptotus is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae) containing at least two described species, including G. cribratus. The genus is characterized by saproxylic larvae and adults that inhabit soft rotten dry wood of dead branches on living trees or recently fallen sections. Larvae possess distinctive urogomphi (pinching organs) used in antipredator defense. The genus is distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with confirmed records from the southeastern United States.
Physonota
tortoise beetles, hispines
Physonota is a genus of tortoise beetles and hispines in the family Chrysomelidae, containing more than 40 described species. Species in this genus are distributed across North America, with records from the United States and Canada. The larvae possess distinctive defensive structures: shields made of feces and exuviae held over the body using urogomphi. Host plant associations have been documented for some species, though many remain poorly studied.
Physonota calochroma
Physonota calochroma is a tortoise beetle species in the family Chrysomelidae, originally described by Blake in 1965. The species is currently treated as a synonym of Eurypepla calochroma. As a member of the tortoise beetle subfamily Cassidinae, it possesses the characteristic domed carapace formed by modified elytra and pronotum. Larvae of the genus Physonota construct distinctive fecal umbrellas using exuviae and frass, held aloft by urogomphi structures.