Tetraopes mandibularis
This record describes Tetraopes mandibularis (species). Recorded family: Cerambycidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
last antennal segment gradually tapering apically, antennal segments without fringes of very long hairs at apices, mandibles of male with very large, prominent dorsal tubercle extending for about half their lengths, elytra with sutural spot always present and occasionally a post-humeral spot. This uncommonly encountered milkweed beetle is found in western Oklahoma and the panhandle region of Texas. Forty-nine individuals were found in association with T. femoratus LeConte on Asclepias latifolia in Texas : Dickens Co., Double Rafter Ranch, 30-VII/29-VIII-79, 2/8-VII-80, [Marlin E. Rice]. Chemsak indicated that when a single host is utilized among two sympatric milkweed beetle species, one species is usually much less numerous than the other, and during a two year period, ca. 200 A. latifolia growing in a fallow field, yielded fewer T. mandibularis than T. femoratus , with the ratio being 1:3.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Chrysomeloidea
- Family
- Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Lamiinae
- Tribe
- Tetraopini
- Genus
- Tetraopes (Milkweed Longhorn Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
asso. w/ Asclepias latifolia in the Llano Estacado region of northwestern Texas and adjacent Oklahoma
Geographic Range
w.TX-w.OK (w. OK and panhandle region of TX) - Map Type Locality: Childress, Childress Co., Texas; Collected by J. Mitchell, 1906
Seasonal Activity
Jun-Aug (Chemsak 1963)
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Host: Broadleaf Milkweed - Asclepias latifolia
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Tetraopes mandibularis Chemsak 1963
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Tetraopes mandibularis. 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 Tetraopes mandibularis (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Tetraopes mandibularis
What is Tetraopes mandibularis?
Tetraopes mandibularis is a species in the family Cerambycidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Tetraopes mandibularis?
12-15 mm
How do you identify Tetraopes mandibularis?
last antennal segment gradually tapering apically, antennal segments without fringes of very long hairs at apices, mandibles of male with very large, prominent dorsal tubercle extending for about half their lengths, elytra with sutural spot always present and occasionally a post-humeral spot.
Where is Tetraopes mandibularis found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | asso. w/ Asclepias latifolia in the Llano Estacado region of northwestern Texas and adjacent Oklahoma |
| Range | w.TX-w.OK (w. OK and panhandle region of TX) - Map Type Locality: Childress, Childress Co., Texas; Collected by J. Mitchell, 1906 |
What does Tetraopes mandibularis eat?
The diet of the Tetraopes mandibularis includes Host: Broadleaf Milkweed - Asclepias latifolia.
When is Tetraopes mandibularis active?
Tetraopes mandibularis: seasonal activity - Jun-Aug (Chemsak 1963).