The false stag beetles (''Diphyllostoma'') are a group of three species of rare beetles known only from California. Almost nothing is known of their life history beyond that the adults are diurnal animal, diurnal and females are flightless; larvae have not been observed.
Their length ranges from 5 to 9 mm; bodies are elongate, with a generally dull brown to reddish-brown color. Both body and legs are covered with longish hairs.
Originally classed with the Lucanidae, ''Diphyllostoma'' have a number of characteristics not shared with any other type of stag beetle, and so in 1972 Holloway proposed a separate family Diphyllostomatidae, which has since been accepted.
Species
* ''Diphyllostoma fimbriatum''
H. C. Fall, (Fall), 1901
* ''Diphyllostoma linsleyi''
H. C. Fall, Fall, 1932
* ''Diphyllostoma nigricolle''
H. C. Fall, (Fall), 1901
Notes
References
* Mary Liz Jameson and Brett C. Ratcliffe, "Diphyllostomatidae", in Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, ''American Beetles'' (CRC Press, 2001), vol. 2
* B. A. Holloway, "The systematic position of the genus ''Diphyllostoma'' Fall (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea)" ''New Zealand Journal of Science'' 15: 31-38 (1972)
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q137433
Scarabaeiformia