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Ripiphoridae are probably the most unlikely-looking beetles, some extremely so. Yet they have small elytra (forewings that became wing covers), one hallmark of all mature beetles except larviform females in some families. They are primarily larval parasites of bees although some are parasitic on cockroaches.

I found this one in the collecting container of my live flight intercept trap and was certain it was a fly until I saw first the elaborate antennae and then the small elytra. Still, due to its diminutive head, I had my doubts. I had never encountered a ripiphorid before but had seen plenty of images and none showed beetles with such a tiny head.

The genus is evidently Ripidius.

Substrate: leaf

Habitat: Northwest Andean montane forest (NT0145)

Collectors: D. Newman & R. Vandegrift

Collection #: RLC1289

Photomicrography and molecular data forthcoming