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Acrotrichinae

W. Eugene Hall
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Acrotrichinae habitus
Containing group: Ptiliidae

Introduction

This somewhat specialized subfamily contains, among other genera, the genus Acrotrichis, the most widely distributed and speciose group of ptiliids. Acrotrichines also represent the largest known ptiliids, some species reaching approximately 2.0 mm in length.

Habitats of acrotrichines vary considerably, from leaf litter, decayed organic material, to mammal dung.

Some acrotrichine species are known to be parthenogenetic.

Characteristics

Presently, members of Acrotrichinae can be separated from other ptiliids by the following combination of characters (Dybas, 1990): hind coxae separated approximately 1/8 metasternal width; pygidium with or without a median tooth, but possessing a lateral tooth on each side; symmetrical aedeagus possessing two ventral hooks; elytra truncate; mesocoxal suture straight.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

As with all subfamilies within Ptiliidae, this group is in need of revision. Currently, Mikael Sorensson is revising Acrotrichis, as well as performing a phylogenetic analysis of the family.

References

Dybas, H.S. 1990. Ptiliidae. in Soil Biology Guide. Daniel L. Dindal, editor. Wiley-Interscience, New York.

Johnson, C. 1969. The genus Acrotrichis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) in the Ethiopian region (studies on Ethiopian Ptiliidae, no.2). Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 79: 213-260.

Johnson, C. 1984. New data on Afrotropical Acrotrichis Motschulsky with descriptions of seven new species (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Rev. Zool. Afr. 98: 197-210.

Johnson, C. 1986. Studies on Baeocrara Thomson (Col., Ptiliidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 122: 79-84.

Johnson, C. 1987. A revised check list of British Acrotrichis Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Entomologist's Gazette 38: 229-242.

Mlynarski, J.K. 1984. Materials to the revision of the genus Acrotrichis Motschulsky, 1848 (Coleoptera, Ptiliidae). Acta Zool. Cracov. 27(18): 305- 376.

Sundt, E. 1971. Gattung: Acrotrichis Motsch. In: Freude, H., Harde, K.W., & Lohse, G.A. (Eds.), Die Käfer Mitteleuropas. Band 3. Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld, Germany, pp. 335–342.

Waltz, R.D. 1984. A new name for Acrotrichis longipennis Kubota (Col.: Ptiliidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 38(3): 255.

Waltz, R.D. 1987. A new synonym in Acrotrichis Motsch. (Col.: Ptiliidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 41(2): 105.

Title Illustrations
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Acrotrichinae habitus
Scientific Name Acrotrichinae
Comments undescribed genus of Acrotrichinae
Image Use creative commons This media file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License - Version 3.0.
Copyright © 1997
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University of Arizona

Page: Tree of Life Acrotrichinae. Authored by W. Eugene Hall. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 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:

Hall, W. Eugene. 1997. Acrotrichinae. Version 01 January 1997 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Acrotrichinae/9623/1997.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

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