Cerylonidae are small to tiny (), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical and subtropical. They are most common under the bark of dead trees, but can also occur in

compost Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by decomposing plant, food waste, recycling organic materials and manure. The resulting m ...

and other decaying plant material. Little is known specifically about their biology but they are thought to be either predators that feed on other small animals, or fungus eating. The taxonomy is complex. The "Cerylonid Series" is a cluster of highly derived former Cucujoidea families considered by recent authorities to comprise a separate superfamily

Coccinelloidea Coccinelloidea is a superfamily of beetles in the order Coleoptera, formerly included in the superfamily Cucujoidea. There are more than 10,000 species in Coccinelloidea, including more than 6000 in the lady beetle family Coccinellidae. Morphol ...

. Several of these families (

Alexiidae Alexiidae is a family of beetles. It contains a single genus, ''Sphaerosoma,'' formerly included within the family Cerylonidae, with around 50 species which are native to the western Palearctic. Species of ''Sphaerosoma'' are very small, around ...

Euxestidae Euxestidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, formerly included within the family Cerylonidae. They are around 70 extant species in 10 genera, distributed primarily in the tropical and subtropical regions of Afro-Eurasia. Th ...

Murmidiidae Murmidiidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, formerly included within the family Cerylonidae. The family contains thirty-four described species in four genera, which are found worldwide. They are typically found under the ...

) used to be included within Cerylonidae.

Selected Genera

* '' Afrorylon'' Slipinski, 1980^g * '' As''^g * '' Australiorylon'' Slipinski, 1988^g * '' Axiocerylon'' Grouvelle, 1918^g * '' Cautomus'' Sharp, 1885^g * ''

Cerylon ''Cerylon'' is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae. There are about 11 described species in ''Cerylon''. Species * '' Cerylon bescidicum'' Reitter, 1911 * '' Cerylon californicum'' Casey, 1890 * '' Cerylon castaneum'' Say, ...

'' Latreille, 1802^{i c g b} * '' Cerylonopsis'' Handlirsch, 1906^g * '' Ivieus'' Slipinski, 1991^g * '' Loebliorylon'' Slipinski, 1990^{i c g} * '' Lytopeplus'' Sharp, 1895^g * ''

Mychocerus ''Mychocerus'' is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae Cerylonidae are small to tiny (), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical a ...

'' Erichson, 1845^{i c g b} * ''

Ostomopsis ''Ostomopsis'' is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae Cerylonidae are small to tiny (), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical a ...

'' Scott, 1922^{i c g b} * '' Pathelus'' Dajoz, 1974^g * '' Philothermopsis'' Heinze, 1944^g * ''

Philothermus ''Philothermus'' is a genus of minute bark beetles in the family Cerylonidae Cerylonidae are small to tiny (), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical ...

'' Aubé, 1843^{i c g b} * '' Ploeosoma'' Wollaston, 1854^g Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net

Extinct genera

* '' Protostomopsis''

Baltic amber The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber or succinite. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that these forests created more than 1 ...

Eocene The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene' ...

References

External links

Cerylonidae
Tree of Life * * Coccinelloidea Polyphaga families {{Polyphaga-stub