Agyrtidae
Primitive carrion beetles
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close boxIntroduction
The small family Agyrtidae is temperate in distribution, extending into mountainous areas of Mexico and Asia. Seven of the eight genera are restricted to the northern hemisphere, and the eighth is endemic to New Zealand. Although Agyrtidae was first recognized as a separate family by Thomson (1859), most authors placed its current members in a broadly defined Silphidae until Lawrence and Newton (1982) resurrected it as a family closely related to Leiodidae rather than Silphidae. Newton (1991) reviewed the scanty knowledge of agyrtid larvae and later (1997) presented the present classification into three subfamilies along with a review of the morphology, relationships, biology, and distribution of the group.
References
Lawrence, J. F. & Newton, A. F., Jr. 1982. Evolution and classification of beetles. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 13: 261-290.
Newton, A. F., Jr. 1991. Agyrtidae (Staphylinoidea), pp. 324-327. In: An introduction to immature insects of North America. Ed., F. W. Stehr. Vol. 2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co., Dubuque, Iowa, xvi + 975 pp.
Newton, A. F. 1997. Review of Agyrtidae (Coleoptera), with a new genus and species from New Zealand. - Annales Zoologici 47: 111-156.
Newton, A. F. 2005 (in press). 11. Staphylinoidea. 11.3. Agyrtidae Thomson, 1859. In: Coleoptera, Vol. I. Morphology and Systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). Handbook of Zoology Vol. IV, Arthropoda: Insecta (ed. by Kristensen, N.P. & Beutel, R.G., vol. ed. by Beutel, R.G. & Leschen, R.A.B.). De Gruyter, Berlin, New York.
Peck, S. B. 2001. Agyrtidae. pp. 247-249 in Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). American Beetles. Volume 1. Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL. xvi + 443 pp.
Thomson, C. G. 1859. Skandinaviens Coleoptera, synoptiskt bearbetade. Vol. 1. Berlingska Boktryckeriet, Lund. 290 pp.
Title Illustrations
| Scientific Name | Zeanecrophilus thayerae Newton |
|---|---|
| Location | New Zealand: AK, Waitakere Ra., site 681 |
| Comments | ex carrion trap (squid) |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | A. F. Newton |
| Life Cycle Stage | adult |
| Body Part | whole body |
| View | dorsal |
| Size | 10 mm |
| Collection | Field Museum of Natural History |
| Type | Paratype |
| Collector | A. Newton/M. Thayer |
| Copyright | © 2005 |
| Scientific Name | Necrophilus hydrophiloides Mannerheim |
|---|---|
| Location | USA: California |
| Reference | Published in Newton 1991 and Newton 2005 |
| Creator | S. Poulakis |
| Acknowledgements | Done for Alfred F. Newton |
| Specimen Condition | Dead Specimen |
| Identified By | A. F. Newton |
| Life Cycle Stage | larva (mature) |
| View | lateral |
| Copyright | © 1975 Susan Poulakis |
