RhipiceridaeFeather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata) Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera femorata)

First described in 2013, this species Rhipicera carinata was found near Blackadder Creek adjacent to Swan River, Perth. Their common names to the genus Rhipicera are Feather-horned and Fan-horned Beetles. The antennae are very sensitive to the presence of the female of the species.

The Latin “carinatus” definition is like a keel or keel shaped. This is in reference to the median longitudinal frontal carina (an elevated ridge).

Rhipicera carinata resembles R. reichei, the difference being in the black femora and vertex usually bearing longitudinal ridge. Rhipicera carinata also differ to Rhipicera (Agathorhipis) femorata in that the former has black legs.

The larvae of the genus Rhipicera are parasitoids of cicadas.

Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Woodbridge, West Coast WA © Marc Newman
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Woodbridge, West Coast WA © Marc Newman

Widely distributed and common in Western Australia, being less common in South Australia. Following photographs are from Carine bushland / wetland in WA.

Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland/wetland WA © Michelle Dreher
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland / wetland WA © Michelle Dreher
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland/wetland WA © Michelle Dreher
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland / wetland WA © Michelle Dreher
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland/wetland WA © Michelle Dreher
Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata), Carine bushland / wetland WA © Michelle Dreher

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Infraorder: Elateriformia
  • Superfamily: Dascilloidea
  • Family: Rhipiceridae
  • Genus: Rhipicera
  • Subgenus: Rhipicera (Oligorhipis)
  • Species: Rhipicera carinata

Footnote & References

  1. Photograph © Marc Newman, Flickr
  2. Photographs © Michelle Dreher
  3. Insects of Perth & South West Western Australia, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/925620167561301/
  4. Rhipicera carinata, iNaturalistAU, https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1181026-Rhipicera-carinata
  5. Rhipicera carinata, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhipicera_carinata
  6. Jin, Zhenyu & Escalona, Hermes & Slipinski, Adam & Pang, Hong. (2013). Phylogeny and Classification of Rhipicerinae (Coleoptera: Rhipiceridae) with A Review of the Australian Taxa. Annales Zoologici. 63. 275-317. 10.3161/000345413X669577. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263091260_Phylogeny_and_Classification_of_Rhipicerinae_Coleoptera_Rhipiceridae_with_A_Review_of_the_Australian_Taxa
  7. Beetle mania, 28 March 2018, Karen Retra, https://karenretra.com/home/rhipicera

RhipiceridaeFeather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata) Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera femorata)

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