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Trilobite Beetles (Platerodrilus)

Trilobite beetles belong to the family of net-winged beetles. As their name suggests, they replicate the scaly appearance of the prehistoric arthropods trilobites. The females drastically differ from the males, retaining their larval form even as adults.

Trilobite Beetles

List of Species Belonging to this Genus

  • Platerodrilus foliaceus 
  • Platerodrilus paradoxus 
  • Platerodrilus major 
  • Platerodrilus ngi 
  • Platerodrilus wittmeri 
  • Platerodrilus ijenensis 
  • Platerodrilus luteus 
  • Platerodrilus maninjauensis 
  • Platerodrilus montanus 
  • Platerodrilus palawanensis 
  • Platerodrilus ranauensis 
  • Platerodrilus sibayakensis
  • Platerodrilus sinabungensis
  • Platerodrilus sinuatus 
  • Platerodrilus talamauensis 
  • Platerodrilus tujuhensis 
  • Platerodrilus bicolor
  • Platerodrilus crassicornis 
  • Platerodrilus hirtus 
  • Platerodrilus korinchiana
  • Platerodrilus robinsoni 
  • Platerodrilus ruficollis 
Trilobite Beetle

Physical Description and Identification

Adult 

Size: Males: 0.31-0.35 in (0.8–0.9 cm) Females: 1.6–3.1 in (4–8 cm)

Color: The females have a dark body, with orange scaly markings throughout. The male has yellow elytra that end in markings of black.

Other Characteristic Features: The females have large scales covering their heads and flattened bodies. The males have thick antennae.

Male Trilobite Beetle
Female Trilobite Beetle

Larva

The larvae are dark in color and have large scales over their flat bodies.

Trilobite Beetle Larva

Pupa

Only the males undergo pupation, doing so after maturing completely.

Egg

After mating, females lay around 200 eggs.

Quick Facts

Other namesTrilobite larva, Sumatran trilobite larva
LifespanAround 1 year
DistributionIndia and South-east Asia
HabitatTropical rainforests
PredatorsNot recorded
Seasons activeNot recorded
Host PlantsRotting leaves and logs
Diet of adultsAssumed microbes from rotting plants; potential predators of insects and snails
Platerodrilus

Identifying the Damage Caused by Them

These beetles cause no identifiable damage.

Trilobite Beetle Picture

Did You Know

  • French entomologist Maurice Pic first described this species in 1921.

Image Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com, upload.wikimedia.org, s3.amazonaws.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, pbs.twimg.com,

Trilobite beetles belong to the family of net-winged beetles. As their name suggests, they replicate the scaly appearance of the prehistoric arthropods trilobites. The females drastically differ from the males, retaining their larval form even as adults.

Trilobite Beetles

List of Species Belonging to this Genus

  • Platerodrilus foliaceus 
  • Platerodrilus paradoxus 
  • Platerodrilus major 
  • Platerodrilus ngi 
  • Platerodrilus wittmeri 
  • Platerodrilus ijenensis 
  • Platerodrilus luteus 
  • Platerodrilus maninjauensis 
  • Platerodrilus montanus 
  • Platerodrilus palawanensis 
  • Platerodrilus ranauensis 
  • Platerodrilus sibayakensis
  • Platerodrilus sinabungensis
  • Platerodrilus sinuatus 
  • Platerodrilus talamauensis 
  • Platerodrilus tujuhensis 
  • Platerodrilus bicolor
  • Platerodrilus crassicornis 
  • Platerodrilus hirtus 
  • Platerodrilus korinchiana
  • Platerodrilus robinsoni 
  • Platerodrilus ruficollis 
Trilobite Beetle

Physical Description and Identification

Adult 

Size: Males: 0.31-0.35 in (0.8–0.9 cm) Females: 1.6–3.1 in (4–8 cm)

Color: The females have a dark body, with orange scaly markings throughout. The male has yellow elytra that end in markings of black.

Other Characteristic Features: The females have large scales covering their heads and flattened bodies. The males have thick antennae.

Male Trilobite Beetle
Female Trilobite Beetle

Larva

The larvae are dark in color and have large scales over their flat bodies.

Trilobite Beetle Larva

Pupa

Only the males undergo pupation, doing so after maturing completely.

Egg

After mating, females lay around 200 eggs.

Quick Facts

Other namesTrilobite larva, Sumatran trilobite larva
LifespanAround 1 year
DistributionIndia and South-east Asia
HabitatTropical rainforests
PredatorsNot recorded
Seasons activeNot recorded
Host PlantsRotting leaves and logs
Diet of adultsAssumed microbes from rotting plants; potential predators of insects and snails
Platerodrilus

Identifying the Damage Caused by Them

These beetles cause no identifiable damage.

Trilobite Beetle Picture

Did You Know

  • French entomologist Maurice Pic first described this species in 1921.

Image Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com, upload.wikimedia.org, s3.amazonaws.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, pbs.twimg.com,

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