Webspinners (Embioptera)

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Webspinners (Embioptera)

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Discussion

jb2602 wrote:

10 Jun 2021

Yes, of course Michael. The bulbous front tarsi are a give away. See 'The Insects of Australia', Ch 26 Embioptera

Metoligotoma sp. (genus)

jb2602 wrote:

10 Jun 2021

Antennae - 21 elongate segments, many more than most Rove beetles eg Tasgius. Abdomen - 9 segments or is it 10? Like an Earwig with undeveloped pincers. No discernible elytra. Interesting body arrangement.

Metoligotoma sp. (genus)

KimPullen wrote:

1 Jun 2021

Embiidina is an alternative name for the order. It's mentioned in the Australian Faunal Directory at https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/EMBIOPTERA, and Gullan & Cranston in their text 'The insects: an outline of entomology' (3rd edn) have them as 'Embiidina or Embioptera'. As the names of taxa above family-group level are not governed by rules, their use is a matter of common agreement - or disagreement!

Embioptera (order)

jb2602 wrote:

1 Jun 2021

Thank you for all this valuable information Roger. Embiidina I think is a synonym for the order Embiodea but I don’t know which one is currently preferred.

Embioptera (order)

RogerF wrote:

1 Jun 2021

Very nice picture showing silk and all, in its natural habitat. The silk is produced from the enlarged fore tarsi shown here. They feed on lichens etc. on the rock surface. I hope you carefully put the rock back!!
The world expert, the late Edward Ross contributed a very comprehensive chapter to Vol 1 of the Insects of Australia (CSIRO). Fancy devoting your life's work to such an enigmatic Order. I don't know about the suggested name Embiidina as its not listed by Ross. The commonest genus under rocks is Aposthonia.

Embioptera (order)