Exodontha

Keith Bayless

Exodontha dubia
Exodontha luteipes

Containing group: Antissinae

Introduction

Exodontha is the only genus in Antissinae native to the Nearctic and Palaearctic region. E. dubia is from the Palaearctic region and Western North America and E. luteipes is native to the Eastern U.S. The larvae of E. dubia is known from moist rotting wood (Woodley 2001).

Characteristics

Exodontha is distinguished from other Palaearctic Stratiomyidae by the vein CuA₁ arising from the discal cell, the antenna with 8 flagellomeres, the presence of an apical spur on the mesothoracic tibia, and the presence of 4-8 spine-like processes on the scutellum (Rozkošný 1998).

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

Exodontha is of unsure phylogenetic placement. It has a unique distribution in Antissinae, and does not possess the defining character of the group - large, explanate gonostyli. Woodley (2001) states that its placement in the Antissinae is provisional.

References

Rozkošný, R. 1998. Chapter 24. Family Stratiomyidae. Manual Palaearct. Dipt. 2:387-411.

Woodley, N. E. 2001. A World Catalog of the Stratiomyidae (Insecta: Diptera). Myia 11: 1-473. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden.

About This Page

Keith Bayless
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Correspondence regarding this page should be directed to Keith Bayless at

First online 28 September 2008
Content changed 28 September 2008

Citing this page:

Bayless, Keith. 2008. Exodontha. Version 28 September 2008 (under construction). http://tolweb.org/Exodontha/108526/2008.09.28 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

edit this page