Platerodrilus

Nowadays, Platerodrilus is a topic that is at the center of attention and debate in different areas. Its implications and repercussions are of great importance, which is why it is essential to analyze it from various perspectives. In this article, we will explore different aspects related to Platerodrilus, examining its impact on society, its evolution over time and possible solutions or approaches that can be considered. This topic is of general interest and its relevance cannot be ignored, so it is crucial to understand it comprehensively to make informed decisions and foster a constructive dialogue about it.

Platerodrilus
male and female of Platerodrilus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Family: Lycidae
Subfamily: Leptolycinae
Tribe: Duliticolini
Genus: Platerodrilus
Pic, 1921
Species

see text

Synonyms

Duliticola Mjöberg, 1925
Falsocalochromus Pic, 1942
Platerodriloplesius Wittmer, 1944
Platrilus Kazantsev, 2009

Platerodrilus is a genus of beetles of the family Lycidae. They commonly appear in the literature under the name Duliticola, which is an obsolete junior synonym.[1] The females retain a larval form as adults (larviform females) and are about 40–80 mm in length. The females and larvae have a flattened, dark body with large scales over the head, resembling trilobites, hence the informal names trilobite beetle, trilobite larva or Sumatran trilobite larva. Additionally, the females feed on rotting wood, fungi, slime molds, and small organisms, which helps break down decay.[2] In contrast, the males are much smaller, 8–9 mm, resembling other lycid beetles. The males are likely to feed on nectar for energy to fly and mate.[2] Species are found in tropical forests of India and South-east Asia.

Although the females resemble the prehistoric trilobite, the trilobite beetle evolved approximately 47 million years ago, 200 million years after trilobites had gone extinct.[3] As only the females have this appearance the search for the species' males remained a mystery until Swedish zoologist Eric Mjöberg published a research paper describing them in 1925.[4]

Species

References

  1. ^ Bocak, Ladislav; Masek, Michal (2014). "The taxonomy and diversity of Platerodrilus (Coleoptera, Lycidae) inferred from molecular data and morphology of adults and larvae". ZooKeys (426): 29–63. doi:10.3897/zookeys.426.7398. PMC 4137290. PMID 25147457.
  2. ^ a b Keeratipattarakarn, Kanitta; Wazed Tina (November 2022). "THE EXISTENCE OF PLATERODRILUS BEETLES IN NAKHON SI THAMMARAT PROVINCE, SOUTHERN THAILAND". Research Gate.
  3. ^ "Bizarre-Looking Beetle Has an Even Weirder Sex Life". Science. 2016-10-27. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  4. ^ a b Mjöberg, Eric (1925). "The mystery of the so-called "trilobite larvae" or "Perty's larvae" definitely solved" (PDF). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 32 (3): 119–157. doi:10.1155/1925/19784.
  5. ^ Duliticola paradoxa. (eol.org)
  6. ^ Wong, A.T.C. (1996). "A new species of neotenous beetle, Duliticola hoiseni (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cantharoidea: Lycidae) from Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore". Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 41 (1): 173–187.