Ascioplaga
| Ascioplaga | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Archostemata |
| Family: | Cupedidae |
| Genus: | Ascioplaga Neboiss, 1984 |
| Species | |
| |
Ascioplaga is a genus of beetles in the family Cupedidae, one of the six extant families within the Archostemata beetle group. The genus contains two species endemic to New Caledonia and one described from northern Queensland in Australia.
The Australian species, Ascioplaga scalena, was originally described as a species of Adinolepis, and was transferred to Ascioplaga in 2009. 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.