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ANTLIKE FLOWER BEETLES

ANTHICIDAE

T

he Anthicidae is a medium-sized family of

small, fast-moving, generally ground-living

beetles in the superfamily Tenebrionoidea. They

are known as antlike flower beetles, though most

species are not especially antlike, nor are they

particularly associated with flowers. The majority

seem to be generalist scavengers, small predators,

family

Anthicidae

known species

3,000

distribution

Worldwide except Antarctica

habitat

Found in natural and human-altered

habitats, in leaf litter, vegetable debris,

compost, and the rainforest canopy

size

2–17 mm

diet

Scavengers, detritivores, and predators

of small invertebrates

notes

Although they do not secrete it themselves,

some Anthicidae are strongly attracted by

the toxin cantharidin, which is secreted as

a defense mechanism by other tenebrionoid

beetles. Adult males of Notoxus monoceros

ANTHICIDAE— Antlike Flower Beetles

below | Notoxus This widespread

genus of beetles has a distinctive

thoracic horn, and is strongly

attracted by cantharidin secreted

by other beetles.