Passandridae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Endopterygota
Superordo: Coleopterida
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Cucujiformia
Superfamilia: Cucujoidea

Familia: Passandridae
Genera (9-10): Ancistria – Aulonosoma – Catogenus – Nicolebertia – Passandra – Passandrella – Passandrina – Prionophora – Scalidiopsis – Taphroscelidia
Name

Passandridae Blanchard, 1845
References

Bukejs, A., Alekseev, V.I. & McKellar, R.C. 2016. Passandra septentrionaria sp. nov.: the first described species of Passandridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) from Eocene Baltic amber. Zootaxa 4144(1): 117–123. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4144.1.7 Reference page.
Burckhardt, D.; Ślipiński, A. 2010: 10.19. Passandridae Blanchard, 1845/Erichson, 1845. Pp. 363-368 in: Leschen, R.A.B.; Beutel, R.G.; Lawrence, J.F. (volume eds.) Coleoptera, beetles. Volume 2: Morphology and systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim). In: Kristensen, N.P. & Beutel, R.G. (eds.) Handbook of zoology. A natural history of the phyla of the animal kingdom. Volume IV. Arthropoda: Insecta. Part 38. Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 3110190753 ISBN 9783110190755
I.Löbl & A.Smetana (eds). 2007 Catalogue of Palearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 4: Elateroidea, Derodontoidea, Bostrichoidea, Lymexyloidea, Cleroidea and Cucujoidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, Denmark ISBN 87-88757-67-6, p. 501
Zubarán, G.E. & di Iorio, O.R. 2018. The family Passandridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) in Argentina with comments on species from Brazil and Paraguay. Zootaxa 4425(3): 471–497. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4425.3.3 Paywall Reference page.

Links

Passandridae in SYNOPSIS OF THE DESCRIBED COLEOPTERA OF THE WORLD
Tree of Life Web Project. 2005. Passandridae. Parasitic flat bark beetles. Version 01 January 2005 (temporary) in The Tree of Life Web Project

Passandridae, the "parasitic flat bark beetles," are a family of beetles notable for being one of the very few beetle families with larvae that are, as far as known, exclusively ectoparasitic on the immature stages of other beetles and Hymenoptera.[1][2][3]

Adults are small to moderate sized beetles, 3-35mm, with heavily sclerotized bodies that are either dorso-ventrally compressed (genera occurring under bark) or subcylindrical in cross section (genera inhabiting wood-borer tunnels). Adults are generally brown or black, rarely with a color pattern, with prominent mandibles, confluent gular sutures, thick, moniliform antennae (antenna with equally sized spherical segments that looks like a string of beads), unequal tibial spurs on the front legs, and generally a characteristic system of grooves and/or carina on the dorsal surface.[4][5]

Larvae are highly modified for their parasitoid habits. First instar larvae are heavily sclerotized, flattened, and spiny. Later instar larvae are physogastric (swollen posteriorly), with simple setae, short unsegmented legs, and reduced mouthparts.[5]

Passandridae consists of 109 described species in nine genera. Only Passandra Dalman occurs in both the Old and New Worlds, being represented in the Neotropical region by a single species, P. fasciata (Gray). The genera Ancistria, Aulonosoma, Nicolebertia, and Passandrina are restricted to the Old World, while Catogenus, Passandrella, Scalidiopsis, and Taphroscelidia are found only in the New World. Only Catogenus and Taphroscelidia occur in the Nearctic. The largest genus is Ancistria, with 34 described species.
References

Dimmock, G. 1884. Notes on Catogenus rufus. Psyche: 341-342.
Fiske, W.F. 1905. Catogenus rufus, a coleopterous parasite. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 7: 90-92.
Gravely, F. H. 1916. Some lignicolous beetle larvae from India and Borneo. Records of the Indian Museum 12: 137-175.
Thomas, M.C. 2002. Family 81. Passandridae Erichson 1845. Pp. 327-328 In: Arnett, R. H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. Frank (editors). 2002. American Beetles. Vol. 2. Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press, Boca Raton. xiv + 861pp.
Burckhardt, D. & S. A. Slipinski. 10.19 Passandridae Blanchard, 1845/Erichson, 1845. p. 363-368. In: Leschen, R.A.B., R.G. Beutel, and J.F. Lawrence. Coleoptera, Beetles. Vol. 2: Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim). Handbook of Zoology. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin.