Platypodidae
| Vernacular names | |
|---|---|
| • Deutsch: | Kernholzkäfer |
| • English: | ambrosia beetles |
Author(s): Maja Jurc, University of Ljubljana
Source: IPM Images
Platypodidae - (ambrosia beetles)
The family contains more than 1000 mainly tropical species of wood boring beetles. Ambrosia beetles carry symbiotic fungi which grow inside the infested wood and serve as food for the beetles and larvae. While all Platypodidae are ambrosia beetles, some species from the related family of bark beetles (Scolytidae) have a similar biology and are also called ambrosia beetles.
In contrast to the Scolytidae, the species of Platypodidae have the head in a normal position and not bent down. The body is elongated and cylindrical with a long metathorax and a short abdomen. The first tarsal segment is longer than the remaining segments combined. Both sexes of a given species often show considerable morphological differences.
The following genera and individual species are currently entered under Platypodidae:
