Brachypnoea texana
This record describes Brachypnoea texana (species). Recorded family: Chrysomelidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Rarely comes to lights Type Locality: Brownsville, Cameron Co., Texas E. G. Riley, pers. comm. to MAQ, 2010: This one is a mystery. It seems Schaeffer is the only person to ever collect this common species in the LRG. On this one, I think Schaeffer may have screwed up the data, OR the Brachypnoea fauna of the valley has changed considerably, OR we modern taxonomists have mis-id this thing (not likely). What we modern folks call texana does not occur in the LRG as far as I know, and I have seen no evidence that it ever did. It is a very common spring species in the Texas Hill Country. I have not examined Schaeffer's type .
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Eumolpinae
- Tribe
- Eumolpini
- Genus
- Brachypnoea
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
endemic to the Edwards Plateau of c. TX - Map
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Quinn coll'ed 110 spmns in w. Travis Co. over two summers, primarily in April from Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis )
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Brachypnoea texana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Brachypnoea texana (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Brachypnoea texana
What is Brachypnoea texana?
Brachypnoea texana is a species in the family Chrysomelidae, within the order Coleoptera.
Where is Brachypnoea texana found?
Range: endemic to the Edwards Plateau of c. TX - Map
What does Brachypnoea texana eat?
The diet of the Brachypnoea texana includes Quinn coll'ed 110 spmns in w. Travis Co. over two summers, primarily in April from Texas live oak ( Quercus fusiformis ).