Polyphaga
Alder leaf beetle, Agelastica alni
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Suborder: Polyphaga Emery, 1886
Infraorders
Bostrichiformia Cucujiformia Elateriformia Scarabaeiformia Staphyliniformia Agelastica alni. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - Trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - Spiders, Scorpions, etc. ... A database query syntax error has occurred. ... Suborders Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga many subgroups: see Subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles (order Coleoptera) are one of the main groups of insects. ... Superfamilies Bostrichoidea Derodontoidea Bostrichiformia is an infraorder of Polyphagan beetles. ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ...

The Polyphagans are the biggest and most diverse suborder of beetles. Polyphaga is comprised of 16 superfamilies and 144 families and display an enormous variety of specialization and adaptation, with over 300,000 described species, or approximately 90% of the beetle species so far discovered. Scientific classification or biological classification refers to how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Suborders Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga many subgroups: see Subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles (order Coleoptera) are one of the main groups of insects. ...

Characteristics

The prothoracic pleuron is not externally visible, but is fused with the trochantin and remnant internally as a “cryptopleuron". Thus one suture between the notum and the sternum is visible in the prothorax in polyphagans, whereas two sutures (the sternopleural and notopleural) often are visible externally in other suborders (unless secondary fusion between the sclerites obfuscates the sutures, as in the genus Micromalthus). Sutures are the stitches doctors, and especially surgeons, use to hold skin, organs, blood vessels and all other tissues of the human body together, after they have been severed in minor or major surgery. ... Sternum or breastbone is a long, flat bone located in the center of the thorax (chest). ... Sclerites are hardened body parts. ...

The transverse fold of the hind wing never crosses MP, cervical sclerites are present, and hind coxae are mobile and do not divide the first ventrite. Female polyphagan beetles have telotrophic ovarioles, which is a derived condition within beetles.

Classification

There are 5 infraorders :

• Bostrichiformia - including furniture beetles and skin beetles.
• Cucujiformia - includes lady beetles, longhorn beetles, weevils and leaf beetles.
• Elateriformia - includes click beetles
• Scarabaeiformia - includes scarab beetles and stag beetles.
• Staphyliniformia - includes rove beetles and water beetles.

The internal classification of Polyphaga involves several superfamilies or series, whose constituents are relatively stable, although some smaller families (whose rank even is disputed) are allocated to different clades by different authors. Large superfamilies include Hydrophiloidea, Staphylinoidea, Scarabaeoidea, Buprestoidea, Byrrhoidea, Elateroidea, and Bostrichoidea. Superfamilies Bostrichoidea Derodontoidea Bostrichiformia is an infraorder of Polyphagan beetles. ... Genera many, see text The skin beetles are a family Dermestidae (Gyllenhal 1808) of beetles. ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Subfamilies Chilocorinae Coccidulinae Coccinellinae Epilachninae Scymininae Sticholotidinae etc. ... Subfamilies Aseminae Cerambycinae Disteniinae Laminae Lepturinae Necydalinae Paradrinae Prioninae Spondylidinae etc. ... Families Nemonychidae Anthribidae Belidae Attelabidae Brentidae Caridae Ithyceridae Curculionidae A weevil is a beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. ... Subfamily Alticinae Bruchinae Cassidinae Chlamisinae Chrysomelinae Clytrinae Criocerinae Cryptocephalinae Donaciinae Eumolpinae Galerucinae Hispinae Lamprosomatinae Megalopodinae Sagrinae The beetle family Chrysomelidae, or leaf beetles is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2500 genera. ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Genera incomplete list Alaus - eyed elater Melanotus Pyrophorus Click beetles (family Elateridae), sometimes called elaters, are distinguished by the unique click sound they produce. ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Genera not a complete list Agestrata Augosoma Canthon Chrysina Chalcosoma Chelorrhina Cheirolasia Cheirotonus Cotinis Dynastes Eudicella Goliathus Megsoma Onthophagus Pachnoda Phanaeus Plusiotis Ranzania Rhomborrhina Stephanorrhina Xylotrupes The scarab is a type of beetle noted for rolling dung into spherical balls and pushing it, as well as its habit of laying... Subfamilies not a complete list Aesalinae Lampriminae Lucaninae Nicaginae Penichrolucaninae Syndesinae Stag Beetle is a name most commonly given to the species Lucanus cervus, a large beetle found in much of Europe. ... Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Genera (thousands, see text) The rove beetles are a large family (Staphylinidae) of beetles, primarily distinguished by their short elytra that leave more than half of their abdomens exposed. ... A water beetle is a beetle adapted for living in water. ... Genera About 160; see text. ... Families See text. ... Families See text. ... Families Buprestidae Schizopodidae Buprestoidea is a superfamily of beetles. ... Families See text. ... Families See text. ...

The infraorder Cucujiformia includes the vast majority of phytophagous (plant-eating) beetles, united by cryptonephric Malpighian tubules of the normal type, a cone ommatidium with open rhabdom, and lack of functional spiracles on the eighth abdominal segment. Constituent superfamilies of Cucujiformia are Cleroidea, Cucujoidea, Tenebrionoidea, Chrysomeloidea, and Curculionoidea. Evidently adoption of a phytophagous lifestyle correlates with speciosity in beetles, with Cucujiformia, especially weevils (Curculionoidea), forming a major radiation. Polyphaga Infraorder Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Phagy or phagia is an ecological term that is used to identify particular nutritional systems. ... The Malpighian tubules are the insects main organ of excretion and osmoregulation, helping them to maintain water and electrolyte balance. ... Spiracles are small openings on the surface of animals that usually lead to respiratory systems. ... Families See text. ... Families 21 families including: Coccinellidae Cucujidae Silvanidae Nitidulidae Sphindidae Brachypteridae Smicripidae Monotomidae Passandridae Laemophloeidae Phalacridae Cryptophagidae Languriidae Eroylidae Byturidae Biphyllidae Bothrideridae Cerylonidae Endomychidae Corylophidae Latridiidae Categories: Stub | Beetles ... Families See text. ... Families Cerambycidae Megalopodidae Orsodacnidae Chrysomelidae A leaf beetle is a beetle from the Chrysomeloidea superfamily. ... Families Nemonychidae Anthribidae Belidae Attelabidae Brentidae Caridae Ithyceridae Curculionidae A weevil is a beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. ... Families Nemonychidae Anthribidae Belidae Attelabidae Brentidae Caridae Ithyceridae Curculionidae A weevil is a beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. ... Families Nemonychidae Anthribidae Belidae Attelabidae Brentidae Caridae Ithyceridae Curculionidae A weevil is a beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. ...

References

• Peter S. Cranston and Penny J. Gullan, University of California,Phylogeny of Insects, page 893.

External links

• Phylogeny of Insects
• Site devoted to Staphyliniformia
• Project devoted to studying rove beetles
• Image of a click beetle
• site devoted to stag beetles
• news article highlighting the damage caused by Longhorn beetles