''Dysmerus'' is a genus 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 in the family

Laemophloeidae Laemophloeidae, "lined flat bark beetles," is a family in the superfamily Cucujoidea characterized by predominantly dorso-ventrally compressed bodies, head and pronotal discs bordered by ridges or grooves, and inverted male genitalia. Size range ...

. Restricted to the New World, until recently ''Dysmerus'' included only the type species, ''D. basalis'', described from Florida in the late 19th century. A recent revisionThomas, M. C. 2009. A review of the genus ''Dysmerus'' Casey (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae). Insecta Mundi 0074: 1-30. resurrected two incorrectly synonymized species and recognized an additional 12 new species, so that the genus currently contains 15 species. Members of ''Dysmerus'' are small (~2mm in length), elongate, subcylindrical, brownish, pubescent beetles with closed procoxal cavities, a narrow intercoxal process of the first ventrite, and lacking an clypeal suture. The salient character of the members of ''Dysmerus'' is the possession by males of a grotesquely modified antennal scape and, in both sexes, the position of the

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

, which arises laterally from the scape. The function of the modified male scape in unknown. These beetles are rarely collected, although adults are sometimes attracted to light at night. They have been found in the burrows of bark beetles (Curculionidae:

Scolytinae A bark beetle is the common name for the subfamily of beetles Scolytinae. Previously, this was considered a distinct family (Scolytidae), but is now understood to be a specialized clade of the "true weevil" family (Curculionidae). Although the ...

) and may be predacious upon them. ''Dysmerus'' larvae have not been completely described, but possess mandibles with an acute basal tooth in place of the more usual grinding mola,Thomas, M. C. 1988b. Generic key to the known larvae of the Cucujidae, Passandridae, and Silvanidae of America North of Mexico (Coleoptera). Insecta Mundi 2: 81-89. which may be a modification for predation. Species of ''Dysmerus'' occur from the southeastern U.S. south to Bolivia and in the West Indies. The genus includes the following species: * '' Dysmerus basalis'' Casey * '' Dysmerus boliviensis'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus caseyi'' (Grouvelle) * '' Dysmerus curvicornis'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus genaspinosus'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus hamaticornis'' Thomas * ''

Dysmerus impolitus ''Dysmerus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Laemophloeidae. Restricted to the New World, until recently ''Dysmerus'' included only the type species, ''D. basalis'', described from Florida in the late 19th century. A recent revisionThomas, M. ...

'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus skelleyi'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus mexicanus'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus monstrosus'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus politus'' Thomas * ''

Dysmerus rondoniensis ''Dysmerus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Laemophloeidae. Restricted to the New World, until recently ''Dysmerus'' included only the type species, ''D. basalis'', described from Florida in the late 19th century. A recent revisionThomas, M. ...

'' Thomas * ''

Dysmerus sulcicollis ''Dysmerus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Laemophloeidae. Restricted to the New World, until recently ''Dysmerus'' included only the type species, ''D. basalis'', described from Florida in the late 19th century. A recent revisionThomas, M. ...

'' Grouvelle * ''

Dysmerus symphilus ''Dysmerus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Laemophloeidae. Restricted to the New World, until recently ''Dysmerus'' included only the type species, ''D. basalis'', described from Florida in the late 19th century. A recent revisionThomas, M. ...

'' Thomas * '' Dysmerus trinidadensis'' Thomas

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5319482 Laemophloeidae Cucujoidea genera