Suborder Adephaga
The suborder Adephaga takes its name from the Greek “ἀδηφάγος - adephagos”, meaning glutton. Most of them are carnivorous.
Characteristics
- Simple antennae
- Galea (a paired mouthpart, part of the maxillae) has two segments, with powerful mandibles
- visible notopleural suture (thoracic plate)
- a first abdominal segment divided by the hind coxae (diagnostic trait)
- 5 segments on each leg
- legs adapted for running or swimming
- a typically elongated and streamlined morphology for speed
General Characteristics
The suborder Adephaga includes around a dozen families, the most prominent being Carabidae.
The suborder Adephaga comprises around 40,000 species of mostly predatory beetles, living either on land or in freshwater. They are morphologically distinguished by:
Key Families
Among the best-known families of Adephaga are:
- Carabidae: ground beetles, large nocturnal predators, often iridescent,
- Dytiscidae: diving beetles, active swimmers in calm waters,
- Gyrinidae: whirligigs, which circle on the surface of ponds,
- Haliplidae, Noteridae, Trachypachidae: lesser-known aquatic or moisture-loving groups.
Lifestyles and Habitats
Adephaga have colonized two major types of environments:
- Terrestrial habitats: ground beetles live under stones, forest litter, hedges, and paths.
- Aquatic habitats: diving beetles and whirligigs are found in ponds, ditches, and temporary wetlands.
They all share a trait of active predation, in both larval and adult stages.
Ecological Importance
Adephaga act as natural regulators in ecosystems:
- they feed on worms, insects, larvae, eggs, snails, etc.
- some aquatic species are even at the top of the food chain in their micro-ecosystem.
- they contribute to the biological balance of soils and wetlands.
Value in Macrophotography
Adephaga are fascinating subjects for macrophotography:
- ground beetles offer a wide range of metallic textures and green, blue or copper reflections,
- diving beetles and whirligigs, though harder to capture, reveal unsuspected beauty under the lens, especially underwater,
- their active behaviors (hunting, escaping, mating) are captivating to document.
Classification and Position in the Evolutionary Tree
The suborder Adephaga is considered the sister group of Polyphaga, the other major suborder of beetles. It is distinguished by several deep morphological traits, especially in the base of the abdomen and legs.
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🔍 Note: The vast majority of Adephaga are incapable of phytophagy. They have specialized in hunting, developing formidable strategies both on land and in water.
adephaga (updated Beutel classification)
- Gyrinoidea
- Gyrinidae
- Halipoidea
- Haliplidae
- Meruoidea
- Meruidae
- Dyscoidea
- Noteridae
- Amphizoidae
- Aspidytidae
- Dytiscidae
- Pelobiidae
- Caraboidea
- Carabidae
- Trachypachidae
References:
- Wikipedia - Adephaga, English page
- Henry A. Hespenheide, in Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (Second Edition), 2001