Ascioplaga | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Suborder: | Archostemata |
Family: | Cupedidae |
Genus: | Ascioplaga Neboiss, 1984 |
Species | |
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Ascioplaga is a genus of beetles in the family Cupedidae, one of the six extant families within the Archostemata beetle group.[1] The genus contains two species endemic to New Caledonia and one described from northern Queensland in Australia.[2][3]
The Australian species, Ascioplaga scalena, was originally described as a species of Adinolepis, and was transferred to Ascioplaga in 2009.[4] Research on this species’ internal head anatomy, specifically mouthparts and musculature, clarified evolutionary aspects of this species and its deeper role in the Coleoptera group.[1]