superfamily
SUPERFAMILY is a database and search platform of structural and functional annotation for all proteins and genomes. It classifies amino acid sequences into known structural domains, especially into SCOP superfamilies. Domains are functional, str ...
of
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s. It is the type superfamily of the infraorder
Bostrichiformia
Bostrichiformia is an infraorder of polyphagan beetles.
It contains two superfamilies, Derodontoidea and Bostrichoidea, which includes the Dermestidae, Ptinidae
Ptinidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Bostrichoidea. There are ...
.
Description
The Bostrichoidea are united by the following features: modified cryptonephridism, the structure of the
aedeagus
An aedeagus (plural aedeagi) is a reproductive organ of male arthropods through which they secrete sperm from the testes during copulation with a female. It can be thought of as the insect equivalent of a mammal's penis, though the comparison i ...
in males, and the lack of a basal mandibular mola in larvae.
Aside from this, Bostrichoidea show a range of morphologies. For example, in Bostrichidae alone, the adult body shape varies from convex to flattened, the body length from 2 to 50 mm, and the colour may be yellow, brown or black and sometimes has a metallic hue.
Ecology
Bostrichoids generally live in dry habitats. For example, many Bostrichidae feed on wood, though some attack
monocotyledonous
Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, ( Lilianae ''sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and grass-like flowering plants (angiosperms), the seeds of which typically contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. They constitute one of ...
plants as well and ''Rhyzopertha dominica'' feeds on stored grains and cereal products. Similarly, most Ptinidae are wood-borers as larvae but some feed on other dry plant or animal material, such as stored foods, tobacco and museum specimens. Dermestidae are typically
scavengers
Scavengers are animals that consume dead organisms that have died from causes other than predation or have been killed by other predators. While scavenging generally refers to carnivores feeding on carrion, it is also a herbivorous feeding b ...
on dried organic matter with a high protein content, with some species being predators or feeding on pollen and nectar.
Families and subfamilies
Bostrichoidea includes the following subgroups:
* Family
Bostrichidae
The Bostrichidae are a family of beetles with more than 700 described species. They are commonly called auger beetles, false powderpost beetles, or horned powderpost beetles. The head of most auger beetles cannot be seen from above, as it is down ...
Bostrichinae
Bostrichinae is a subfamily of beetles
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. ...
Dysidinae
Dysidinae is a subfamily of beetles
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The ...
Psoinae
Psoinae is a small subfamily of beetles in the family Bostrichidae
The Bostrichidae are a family of beetles with more than 700 described species. They are commonly called auger beetles, false powderpost beetles, or horned powderpost beetles. T ...
Blanchard, 1851
* Family
Dermestidae
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are over 1,100 species described.
Dermestids have ...
Latreille, 1804 - Carpet Beetles
** Subfamily
Attageninae
Attageninae was a subfamily of beetles in the family Dermestidae
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapr ...
Thorictinae
Thorictinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Dermestidae
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra ...
Agassiz, 1846
** Subfamily
Trinodinae
Trinodinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Dermestidae, containing the following genera:Endecatomidae LeConte, 1861
* Family
Ptinidae
Ptinidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Bostrichoidea. There are at least 220 genera and 2,200 described species in Ptinidae worldwide. The family includes spider beetles and deathwatch beetles.
The Ptinidae family species are hard ...
Latreille, 1802 (formerly Anobiidae)
** Subfamily
Alvarenganiellinae
Alvarenganiellinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Ptinidae. There is at least one genus, '' Dasytanobium'', in Alvarenganiellinae.
The subfamily Alvarenganiellinae, along with Anobiinae and several others, were formerly considered membe ...
Viana and MartÃnez, 1971
** Subfamily
Anobiinae
Anobiinae is a subfamily of death-watch beetles in the family Ptinidae, with at least 45 genera. It was formerly considered a member of the family Anobiidae, but its family name has since been changed to Ptinidae.
The larvae of a number of spec ...
Dryophilinae
Dryophilinae is a subfamily of death-watch and spider beetles in the family Ptinidae. There are at least six genera and two described species in Dryophilinae.
The subfamily Dryophilinae, along with Anobiinae and several others, were formerly con ...