Archodontes

Archodontes is a genus of root-boring beetles in the family Cerambycidae. It is monotypic, being represented by the single species Archodontes melanopus.^[1] It is endemic to Central America and the south-eastern United States, and bores the roots of oaks and other hardwoods.

Archodontes melanopus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Cerambycidae
Subfamily:	Prioninae
Tribe:	Macrotomini
Genus:	Archodontes Lameere 1903
Species:	A. melanopus
Binomial name
Archodontes melanopus (Linnaeus, 1767)
Synonyms
List (Genus) Paramallus Lameere 1903 (Species) Aplagiognathus cilipes Thomson, 1867 Aplagiognathus melanopus Thomson, 1864 Archodontes cilipes Say 1824 Archodontes simplicicolle (Haldeman 1847) Basitoxus melanopus Lameere, 1903 Cerambyx melanopus Linné, 1767 Mallodon cilipes Haldeman, 1847 Mallodon dasystomus Haldeman, 1847 Mallodon melanopus Melsheimer, 1853 Mallodon simplicicolle Haldeman, 1847 Orthosoma cilipes Haldeman, 1847 Paramallus cilipes Casey, 1912 Paramallus melanopus Casey, 1912 Prionus melanopus Fabricius, 1781 Stenodontes melanopus Herrick, 1935

Description

Head short and black. Mandibles short. Antennae dark brown, almost black; shorter than the insect. The thorax broad, rough and black, margined on the posterior and anterior edges; having many small sharp spines on its sides, the two last of which are larger than the rest, and having two tubercles on the upper side. Elytra dark brown, almost black, margined on the sides and suture, with a small spine on each, at the extremities, and extending a little beyond the anus. Abdomen smooth and shining, and of a dark brown colour, nearly black. Sides of the breast hairy. Legs dark brown, almost black, smooth and shining, with three small tibial spurs. Length (including mandibles) 2¼ inches (57 mm).^[2]