| Platypsyllus castoris | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Suborder: | |
| Infraorder: | |
| Superfamily: | |
| Family: | |
| Subfamily: | |
| Genus: | Platypsyllus Ritsema, 1869
|
| Species: | P. castoris
|
| Binomial name | |
| Platypsyllus castoris | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Platypsyllus castorinus Westwood, 1869 | |
The beaver beetle (Platypsyllus castoris) is an ectoparasitic beetle that is only found on its host species, beavers,[2][3] and the sole member of the genus Platypsyllus. It is flattened and eyeless,[4] resembling a flea or tick. It used to be placed in a separate family called Leptinidae, but is now placed in the family Leiodidae, in the subfamily Platypsyllinae.[1]
- ^ a b Peck, S. B. (March–June 2006). "Distribution and biology of the ectoparasitic beaver beetle Platypsyllus castoris Ritsema in North America (Coleoptera: Leiodidae: Platypsyllinae)". Insecta Mundi. 20 (1–2): 85. ISSN 0749-6737. Archived from the original on 16 March 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
...and Platypsyllus Ritsema 1869 with one apparently Holarctic species, ectoparasitic on the two species of Castor.
- ^ Cardé, Vincent H.; Resh, Ring T., eds. (2009). Encyclopedia of Insects (2nd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier/Academic Press. p. 197. ISBN 9780080920900.
Platypsyllus castoris beetles of the family Leiodidae are specialists on beavers,...
- ^ Whitaker, John O. (1996). National Audubon Society Field Guide to Mammals (Revised ed.). New York: Knopf. p. 568. ISBN 0-679-44631-1.
Beavers are hosts to a unique parasite that lives on the exterior of their bodies—a highly specialized beetle that parasitizes only beavers.
- ^ Goater, Timothy M.; Goater, Cameron P.; Esch, Gerald W. (2013). Parasitism: The Diversity and Ecology of Animal Parasites (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 325. ISBN 9780521190282.
All genera [of Coleoptera, which includes Platypsyllus,] are wingless and are eyeless or have reduced eyes, and are markedly dorsoventrally flattened.