Oxypeltidae


The Oxypeltidae are a small family belonging to the superfamily Chrysomeloidea, widespread in the Andean region of Chile and Argentina. They have traditionally been considered a group within the Cerambycidae.

Description

The Oxypeltidae do not have any morphologic resemblance with the other cerambycids. The body is massive and characterised by a nice metallic colour, bluish or green on the head and prothorax, and red on the elytra. Their antennae and legs have a blue metallic colour.
The head, round and small, has two robustly toothed antennae, the pronotum is furnished with longitudinal crests, and the elytra, covered by strong puncture, are bitoothed at the apex.
The posterior wings, membranous, have an unusual violet colour, similar to that of the Cetoniinae, while they are transparent in all other groups of cerambycids.

Biology

The larvae, typically xylophagous, attack trees of the genus Nothofagus, the vicariant of beeches in the Southern Hemisphere. The adults are diurnal and can often be found on leaves.

Systematics

They have always been a mystery for specialists since these insects do not show any strong resemblance with other cerambycids.
At first placed in the Prioninae due to the lateral ridge of the pronotum, the Oxypeltinae have been separated.
Saalas' study on the posterior wings of Cerambycids put into light the fact that the wings of the Oxypeltinae were unusually pigmented.
More recently, the research work done on the larvae showed a far relationship with the Vesperidae.
Therefore, the group of Oxypeltinae has been recently considered as a different family
The Oxypeltidae consist of only two genera and three species: