Morphology and phylogenetic significance of a newly discovered sound production mechanism in Passandridae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea).

Sound production in Passandridae is discovered and the involved structures are described and illustrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing a single type of stridulatory apparatus. The phylogenetic significance of this newly described mechanism is discussed based on a finely detailed analysis of representatives from 8 of 9 passandrid genera as well as from five closely related families, which allows hypothesizing the presence of a prosterno-coxal stridulatory apparatus as a unique synapomorphy of the clade comprising all passandrid genera except Aulonosoma Motschulsky. A note on the sound generation mechanism and behaviour is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]