Passandridae, are among the only beetles that have

adopted a parasitic lifestyle, developing on the

larvae of other beetles. The Mexican Bean Beetle

Epilachna varivestis (Coccinellidae), one of the few

vegetarian ladybugs, is a minor pest of beans in the

USA and Mexico. Some predatory Monotomidae,

such as Rhizophagus grandis, are used in forestry for

biological control of bark beetles (Curculionidae:

Scolytinae), such as the conifer pest Dendroctonus.

Some cucujoids are associated with stored

foodstuffs, and members of Silvanidae and

Laemophloeidae have been introduced around

the world with seeds, grains, and similar products.

southern-hemisphere distribution, being

restricted to temperate South America,

Australia, and New Zealand. These are

probably remnants of the beetle fauna of

the ancient southern supercontinent of

Gondwana, which broke up during the

Jurassic period about 180 million years

ago. These small beetles preserve the

appearance of some Mesozoic groups,

and are not closely related to one another

or to other living beetle families

above | Corynomalus marginatus

(Endomychidae) A cluster in

Ecuador; both adults and larvae

have conspicuous warning colors

to deter predators.

below | Shoguna (Monotomidae)

A predatory Asian beetle adapted

to follow other wood-boring beetles

into their burrows and eat them.