Family:
Bostrichidae (auger borers, shot-hole borers)
Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda
> Insecta
(insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola >
Holometabola > Coleoptera
> Polyphaga
The auger
beetles vary in size (2-31mm) and are adapted to a life of boring
burrows into wood which is apparent from their cylindrical shape. The
end of the body is characteristically truncated and not tapered and the
head is directed downwards. They are perfectly adapted for moving through
wood burrows and the body and legs are armed with hooks, spines and
teeth. Unlike other woodboring beetles where only the larvae bore, both
adults and larvae of the bostrichids bore.
There are 2 subfamilies, Dinoderinae and Bostrychinae.
The Dinoderinae are small and included serious pests of grain and
bamboo, basketwork and cane furniture. The larger Bostrychinae species
bore into woof of living and weakened trees, both introduced and
indigenous but also infest roots and tubers such as sweet potatoes.
Publications
-
Lesne, P. 1906. Revue des coléoptères de la famille
des Bostrychidae Sinoxylinae. Annales de la Société Entomologique de
France, 5e Mémoires.
-
Vrydagh, J. M. 1951. Faune entomolique des bois au
Congo belge. Les insectes bostrychides. Bulletin Agricole du Congo
Belge 42(1): 65-90.
Page by Margie Cochrane
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