Note

Differences Between Suborders of Beetles

David R. Maddison

The following table presents information on some of the differences between the different suborders of beetles.

  Polyphaga Archostemata Myxophaga Adephaga
cervical sclerites present absent absent absent
propleuron internallized as a cryptopleuron, often fused to trochantin external, notopleural sutures usually visible external, notopleural sutures usually visible external, notopleural sutures usually visible
hind coxae usually moveable moveable moveable fused to metasternum
first visible abdominal sternum undivided undivided undivided divided by hind coxae
wing apex spirally folded no yes yes no
oblongulum cell in hind wing absent present present present
major transverse wing fold crosses MP/CU no yes yes yes
pygidial defense glands absent or present absent absent present
testes multiple follicles multiple follicles? tubular tubular
ovarioles telotrophic polytrophic ? polytrophic
sex chromosomes with parachute? yes (most species) no no no (possibly in a very few species)
larval leg articles 4+claw 5+claw 4+claw 5+claw
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David R. Maddison
Oregon State University

Page: Tree of Life Differences Between Suborders of Beetles Authored by David R. Maddison. The TEXT of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 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.

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