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CUCUJOID BEETLES

CUCUJOIDEA

lthough only the eighth largest of the

superfamilies, with slightly more than 20,000

known species, the Cucujoidea is one of the most

variable groups in terms of life history, and is

divided into 36 families, more than twice as many

as, for example, the similar-sized superfamily

Elateroidea (24,000 species in only 17 families).

Unsurprisingly, given this diversity, many experts

regard Cucujoidea as up to four different

superfamilies (Cucujoidea, Nitiduloidea,

Erotyloidea, and Coccinelloidea). Some of the

cucujoid families, such as the Coccinellidae

(ladybugs) are conspicuous, brightly colored,

and well known, but many cucujoid

families comprise only obscure small,

brownish beetles that are difficult to

classify, and as a result their taxonomy

has been for many years in a state of

constant change.

While the majority of Cucujoidea

feed as adults and larvae on fungi, either

on the fruiting bodies or the spores and

mycelia, some have become predators

(many Coccinellidae) or phytophagous on

living plants (some coccinellids, many nitidulids).

Others (many Nitidulidae) are associated with sap

or fermenting fruit, and a few, such as the larvae of

superfamily

Cucujoidea

known species

21,500

distribution

Worldwide except Antarctica

habitat

Forests, grasslands, agricultural land,

sometimes human habitations

size

1–20 mm

diet

Many are fungus feeders as adults and

larvae, but different families have adapted

to a wide range of feeding habits

notes

Around three-quarters of all cucujoids

belong to just four families: Coccinellidae,

Erotylidae, Endomychidae, and Nitidulidae.

Most of the other families are small, and

several, including Tasmosalpingidae,

Priasilphidae, Lamingtoniidae, and

Protocucujidae, have an extreme

CUCUJOIDEA—Cucujoid Beetles

below | Passandra trigemina

(Passandridae) A Parasitic

Flat Bark Beetle from southern

Asia, which develops on the larvae

of wood-boring beetles such

as Cerambycidae.

A