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Rhipicera

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Rhipicera
Rhipicera carinata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Elateriformia
Family: Rhipiceridae
Genus: Rhipicera
Latreille, 1817
Synonyms
  • Polytomus Dalman, 1819
  • Polystomus Berthold, 1827 (Missp.)
  • Agathorhipis Guérin-Méneville, 1843
  • Rhipidocera Agassiz, 1846 (Emend.)
  • Rhipidicera Gistl, 1848 (Missp.)

Rhipicera is a genus of beetle belonging to the family Rhipiceridae.[1][2] The larvae are parasitoids of cicadas.

The sexual dimorphism between male and female beetles in the genus Rhipicera has been attributed to using scent in mating behaviors.[2] The antennae of males and females differ in that the males have lamellate antennae while the females' antennae are significantly smaller in comparison.[2] It is thought that the males use their lamellate antennae, more specifically, the sensilla placodea, to detect pheromones that are produced by females.[2] This is suggested by certain mating behaviors, such as distinct flying patterns that have been seen in other species that rely on pheromone tracking.[2] Additionally, there have been observations of multiple adult males trying to mate with a singular female, which is seen in other species and this further supports that pheromones are used to help facilitate mating behaviors.[3]

Species

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All five species of the genus Rhipicera are closely related based on their morphological characters.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Jin, Z.; Escalona, H.; Ślipiński, A.; Pang, H. (2013). "Phylogeny and classification of Rhipicerinae (Coleoptera: Rhipiceridae) with a review of the Australian taxa". Annales Zoologici. 63 (2): 275–317. doi:10.3161/000345413X669577. ISSN 0003-4541. S2CID 85125599.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Ramsey, A.; Houston, T.; Ball, A.; Goral, T.; Barclay, M.; Cox, J. (2015). "Towards an understanding of molecule capture by the antennae of male beetles belonging to the genus Rhipicera (Coleoptera, Rhipiceridae)". The Anatomical Record. 298 (9): 1519–1534. doi:10.1002/ar.23188. PMID 26082323. S2CID 18493075.
  3. ^ Arnett, JR, Ross H.; Thomas, Michael C.; Skelley, Paul E.; Frank, J. Howard, eds. (2002-06-19). American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea (0 ed.). CRC Press. doi:10.1201/9781420041231. ISBN 978-0-429-12771-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link)
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  • Media related to Rhipicera at Wikimedia Commons