notes

The taxonomic placement of Lymexyloidea

is very difficult, as they seem to have no

close relatives in the modern fauna, and

have been placed in a superfamily of their

own. They are so highly modified that on

first inspection, they might not even be

recognized as a beetle, especially those

species where the elytra are reduced to tiny

flaps. DNA studies seem to suggest that

they may be related to the Tenebrionoidea

above | Elateroides flabellicornis has striking

“flabellate” antennae in the male, for

detecting the female pheromones. This

European species feeds on conifers.

right | Atractocerus This tropical genus

has tiny elytra and a huge abdomen,

hardly looking like a beetle at all. This

is an Asian species.