Under Construction

Metoncidus

Kipling Will
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Containing group: Loxandrini

Introduction

This genus was originally described by Bates (1871) for the single species Metoncidus tenebrionides and classified with loxandrine genera (Bates 1872), the loxandrine series (Allen & Ball 1980). This small and obscure genus was recently revised (Will 2004) and two more species described.

Little is known about the life history of these beetles but some M. epiphytus specimens have been collected by insecticide fogging, and the single specimen of M. gracilus was found under bark. Additionally, M. gracilus has been collected in "swamp forest", at a locality that was a marshy area of very low relief dominated by several large patches of Heliconia L., and surrounded by very dense growths of trees and shrubs noticeably different from those on adjacent areas of higher relief (S.J. ASHE, in litt.).

Characteristics

Separated from all Loxandrini in South America by the following combination of characters: elytral plica externally evident; third elytral interval with 5-10 setae in the apical half or third;  pronotum wider than long with rounded lateral margins. Males of M. tenebrionides and M. epiphytus do not have the obliquely expanded protarsomeres found in most, but not all, males in Loxandrini.

Key to adult specimens of Metoncidus species

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

The relationship of this genus to other loxandrines is not resolved. It is most likely related to some South American Loxandrus or perhaps some Adrimus. Monophyly of this genus seems very likely given what is probably a derived body form (elongate and parallel-sided) and unusual pattern of additional setae on the elytra (plurisetose intervals), male venter (4 setae on sterna VII)  and mesofemora shared by all species. None of these character states are found in putative near relatives, e.g. Loxandrus.

Title Illustrations
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Scientific Name Metoncidus epiphytus
Specimen Condition Dead Specimen
Identified By K.Will
Sex Male
Life Cycle Stage Adult
View Dorsal
Size 9.6mm
Collection USNM
Type Paratype
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © Kipling Will
About This Page

Kipling Will
University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Kipling Will at

Page: Tree of Life Metoncidus. Authored by Kipling Will. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License - Version 3.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Click on an image or a media link to access the media data window, which provides the relevant licensing information. For the general terms and conditions of ToL material reuse and redistribution, please see the Tree of Life Copyright Policies.

Citing this page:

Will, Kipling. 2006. Metoncidus. Version 07 July 2006 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Metoncidus/51488/2006.07.07 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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