Polyphaga
Encyclopedia
Polyphaga is the largest and most diverse suborder of beetle
s; the name is derived from two two Greek words: poly-, meaning 'many', and phagein, meaning 'to eat', so the suborder is called the “eaters of many things”. Polyphaga comprises 144 families in 16 superfamilies, and displays an enormous variety of specialization and adaptation, with over 300,000 described species, or approximately 90% of the beetle species so far discovered.
Key characteristics of Polyphaga are that the hind coxa
(base of the leg), does not divide the first and second abdominal/ventral plates which are known as sternites. Also, the notopleural
suture (found under the pronotal shield) is not present.
The internal classification of Polyphaga involves several superfamilies or series, whose constituents are relatively stable, although some smaller families (whose rank even is disputed) are allocated to different clades by different authors. Large superfamilies include Hydrophiloidea
, Staphylinoidea
, Scarabaeoidea
, Buprestoidea
, Byrrhoidea
, Elateroidea
, and Bostrichoidea
.
The infraorder Cucujiformia
includes the vast majority of phytophagous (plant-eating) beetles, united by cryptonephric Malpighian tubules of the normal type, a cone ommatidium
with open rhabdom, and lack of functional spiracle
s on the eighth abdominal segment. Constituent superfamilies of Cucujiformia are Cleroidea
, Cucujoidea
, Tenebrionoidea
, Chrysomeloidea
, and Curculionoidea. Evidently adoption of a phytophagous lifestyle correlates with taxon diversity in beetles, with Cucujiformia, especially weevil
s (Curculionoidea), forming a major radiation.
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s; the name is derived from two two Greek words: poly-, meaning 'many', and phagein, meaning 'to eat', so the suborder is called the “eaters of many things”. Polyphaga comprises 144 families in 16 superfamilies, and displays an enormous variety of specialization and adaptation, with over 300,000 described species, or approximately 90% of the beetle species so far discovered.
Key characteristics of Polyphaga are that the hind coxa
Coxa
Coxa may refer to:* Theta Leonis, a star* Nickname of Brazilian soccer team Coritiba Foot Ball Club* Hip, below the lateral side of the abdomen* The short most-proximal base jointed segment of the arthropod leg...
(base of the leg), does not divide the first and second abdominal/ventral plates which are known as sternites. Also, the notopleural
Notopleuron
The notopleuron is a region on an insect thorax. They are used in characterizing species, particularly in the Family Diptera . The notopleuron is a thoracic pleurite situated at the end of the transverse suture of Diptera.-References:* Zombori, L...
suture (found under the pronotal shield) is not present.
Classification
There are 5 infraorders:- BostrichiformiaBostrichiformiaBostrichiformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles.It contains two superfamilies, Derodontoidea and Bostrichoidea, which includes the Dermestidae, Anobiidae, Bostrichidae and others....
— including furniture beetles and skin beetleSkin beetleDermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. They can range in size from 1–12 mm. Key...
s. - CucujiformiaCucujiformiaCucujiformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles, representing the vast majority of plant-eating beetles.The infraorder contains six superfamilies:* Chrysomeloidea...
— includes lady beetles, longhorn beetleLonghorn beetleThe longhorn beetles are a cosmopolitan family of beetles, typically characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than the beetle's body...
s, weevilWeevilA weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than , and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae...
s, checkered beetles and leaf beetleLeaf beetleBeetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles. This is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families....
s. - ElateriformiaElateriformiaElateriformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles. The two largest families in this group are buprestids, of which there are around 15,000 described species, and click beetles, of which there are around 10,000 described species....
— includes click beetleClick beetleThe family Elateridae is commonly called click beetles , elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles or "skipjacks". They are a cosmopolitan beetle family characterized by the unusual click mechanism they possess...
s and firefliesFireflyLampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies... - Scarabaeiformia — includes scarab beetleScarabaeidaeThe family Scarabaeidae as currently defined consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide. The species in this large family are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family is fairly unstable, with numerous competing theories, and new proposals appearing quite...
s and stag beetleStag beetleStag beetles are a group of about 1,200 species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, presently classified in four subfamilies Some species grow up to over 12 cm , but most are about 5 cm .-Overview:...
s. - StaphyliniformiaStaphyliniformiaStaphyliniformia is a large infraorder of beetles. It contains over 60,000 described species from all regions of the world. Most species occur in moist habitats - various kinds of rotting plant debris, fungi, dung, carrion, many live in fresh water....
— includes rove beetleRove beetleThe rove beetles are a large family of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that leave more than half of their abdomens exposed. With over 46,000 species in thousands of genera, the group is the second largest family of beetles after the Curculionidae...
s and water beetleWater beetleA water beetle is a beetle adapted to living in water. Water beetles rise to the water surface and take atmospheric air into their tracheal systems. There are approximately 2000 species of water beetles. The rest marine species tend to live in the intertidal zone...
s.
The internal classification of Polyphaga involves several superfamilies or series, whose constituents are relatively stable, although some smaller families (whose rank even is disputed) are allocated to different clades by different authors. Large superfamilies include Hydrophiloidea
Hydrophiloidea
Hydrophiloidea is a superfamily of beetles. Until recently it only included a single family, the water scavenger beetles , but several of the subfamilies have been removed and raised to family rank.-External links:*...
, Staphylinoidea
Staphylinoidea
Staphylinoidea is a superfamily of beetles. It is a very large and diverse group with worldwide distribution.-Characteristics:Most staphylinoids are middle-sized or small beetles with a pair of shortened elytra. The hind wings have no accessory posterior ridge , no wedge cell and apical cell....
, Scarabaeoidea
Scarabaeoidea
Scarabaeoidea is a superfamily of beetles, the only subgroup of the infraorder Scarabaeiformia. Around 35,000 species are placed in this superfamily and some 200 new species are described each year...
, Buprestoidea
Buprestoidea
Buprestoidea is a superfamily of beetles.It contains two families:* Buprestidae Leach 1815, the jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles.* Schizopodidae LeConte 1861...
, Byrrhoidea
Byrrhoidea
The superfamily Byrrhoidea includes a number of beetle families, most of which are either aquatic or associated with a semi-aquatic habitat. In fact, other than the superfamily Hydrophiloidea, the majority of the remaining Polyphagan beetles which are aquatic are in this superfamily...
, Elateroidea
Elateroidea
Elateroidea is a large superfamily of beetles. It contains the familiar click beetles, fireflies, and soldier beetles, and their relatives.Certain clusters of families within the superfamily are more strongly related to one another; for example, the Elateridae has close ties to Anischiidae,...
, and Bostrichoidea
Bostrichoidea
Bostrichoidea is a superfamily of beetles.It includes the following subgroups:* Anobiidae Fleming 1821 ** Ptinidae or Ptininae Latreille 1802 * Bostrichidae Latreille 1802...
.
The infraorder Cucujiformia
Cucujiformia
Cucujiformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles, representing the vast majority of plant-eating beetles.The infraorder contains six superfamilies:* Chrysomeloidea...
includes the vast majority of phytophagous (plant-eating) beetles, united by cryptonephric Malpighian tubules of the normal type, a cone ommatidium
Ommatidium
The compound eyes of insects, mantis shrimp and millipedes are composed of units called ommatidia . An ommatidium contains a cluster of photoreceptor cells surrounded by support cells and pigment cells. The outer part of the ommatidium is overlaid with a transparent cornea...
with open rhabdom, and lack of functional spiracle
Spiracle
Spiracles are openings on the surface of some animals that usually lead to respiratory systems.-Vertebrates:The spiracle is a small hole behind each eye that opens to the mouth in some fishes. In the primitive jawless fish the first gill opening immediately behind the mouth is essentially similar...
s on the eighth abdominal segment. Constituent superfamilies of Cucujiformia are Cleroidea
Cleroidea
Cleroidea is a small superfamily of beetles. Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible elytra, and typically hairy or scaly.It contains about 10,000 species in the families:* Acanthocnemidae Crowson 1964...
, Cucujoidea
Cucujoidea
Cucujoidea is a superfamily of beetles. They include many fungus beetles, as well as ladybugs. Also included are a diversity of lineages of "bark beetles" unrelated to the "true" bark beetles , which are weevils ....
, Tenebrionoidea
Tenebrionoidea
Tenebrionoidea is a very large and diverse superfamily of beetles.It broadly corresponds to the 'Heteromera' of earlier authors.It contains the families:* Aderidae Winkler 1927 * Anthicidae Latreille 1819...
, Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomeloidea
Chrysomeloidea is an enormous superfamily of beetles. There are tens of thousands of species, mostly in the families Cerambycidae and Chrysomelidae, the leaf beetles.-Overview:...
, and Curculionoidea. Evidently adoption of a phytophagous lifestyle correlates with taxon diversity in beetles, with Cucujiformia, especially weevil
Weevil
A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than , and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae...
s (Curculionoidea), forming a major radiation.