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the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Rhipiceridae (parasitic comb beetles)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola > Coleoptera (beetles) > Polyphaga > Superfamily: Dascilloidea

A small family of fewer than 10 species. Medium sized beetles, up to about 12mm. Adults visit flowers and probably eat pollen. The larvae live in the soil and parasitize Cicadidae (order Hemiptera) larvae.

Rhipiceridae

 

Rhipiceridae, Parasitic Comb Beetle, 12mm. [image by A. Weaving ©, from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, used with permission].

 

 

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