''Cryptophilus'' is a genus of
pleasing fungus beetle
file:Ischyrus quadripunctatus P1390172a.jpg, ''Ischyrus quadripunctatus''
Erotylidae, or the pleasing fungus beetles, is a family (biology), family of beetles belonging to Cucujoidea containing over 100 genus, genera. In the present circumscrip ...
s in the family
Erotylidae
''Ischyrus quadripunctatus''
Erotylidae, or the pleasing fungus beetles, is a family of beetles belonging to Cucujoidea containing over 100 genera. In the present circumscription, it contains 6 tribes ( Tritomini, Dacnini, Megalodacnini, Er ...
. There are about nine described species in ''Cryptophilus''.
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Identification
''Cryptophilus'' adults are brown and slightly hairy beetles, 1.6-2.3 mm long and with 3-segmented antennal clubs.Monotomidae
Monotomidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Cucujoidea. The family is found worldwide, with approximately 240 species in 33 genera. The ecological habits of the family are diverse, with different members of the group being found under t ...
) or '' Epuraea'' (Nitidulidae
The sap beetles, also known as Nitidulidae, are a family (biology), family of beetles.
They are small (2–6 mm) ovoid, usually dull-coloured beetles, with knobbed antenna (biology), antennae. Some have red or yellow spots or bands. They fe ...
), which occur in similar habitats. ''Cryptophilus'' larvae can be recognised by their mandibles
In anatomy, the mandible, lower jaw or jawbone is the largest, strongest and lowest bone in the human facial skeleton. It forms the lower jaw and holds the lower teeth in place. The mandible sits beneath the maxilla. It is the only movable bone ...
, which lack a sub-apical accessory tooth and have a large, subtriangular prostheca.
Ecology
''Cryptophilus'' occur in decaying plant matter (e.g. leaf litter
Plant litter (also leaf litter, tree litter, soil litter, litterfall or duff) is dead plant material (such as leaves, bark, needles, twigs, and cladodes) that have fallen to the ground. This detritus or dead organic material and its constituent ...
, wood debris, compost heaps, grass cuttings, straw) and also in stored food products (e.g. cereals
A cereal is any grass cultivated for the edible components of its grain (botanically, a type of fruit called a caryopsis), composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food ...
, beans
A bean is the seed of several plants in the family Fabaceae, which are used as vegetables for human or animal food. They can be cooked in many different ways, including boiling, frying, and baking, and are used in many traditional dishes thr ...
, flour, dried fruit
Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed either naturally, through sun drying, or through the use of specialized dryers or dehydrators. Dried fruit has a long tradition of use dating back to th ...
, nuts).
Species
These nine species belong to the genus ''Cryptophilus'':
* '' Cryptophilus cryptophagoides'' Grouvelle, 1916
* '' Cryptophilus fluminalis'' Casey, 1924
* '' Cryptophilus integer'' (Heer, 1841)
* '' Cryptophilus minimus'' Grouvelle, 1913
* '' Cryptophilus mirus'' Grouvelle, 1913
* '' Cryptophilus obliteratus'' Reitter, 1878
* '' Cryptophilus propinguus'' Reitter, 1874
* '' Cryptophilus propinquus'' Reitter, 1874
* '' Cryptophilus seriatus'' Casey, 1924
References
Further reading
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External links
*
Erotylidae
Articles created by Qbugbot
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