Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described species currently stands at around 1050 in 29 genera but the number of species is undoubtedly much higher than this and increases each time a new estimate is made.

Description

Adult beetles in this family are some shade of brown and between in length. The antennae have eight to eleven segments, the terminal one to three segments forming a club. The elytra are wider than the head and thorax, and are punctured by rows of small pits. The dorsal surface is rough. Most species are unable to fly. A characteristic separating latridiids from other beetles is that each leg ends in a tarsus with three segments (tarsal formula 3-3-3). The two subfamilies of latridiids differ from each other in appearance. Latridiinae are glabrous, rarely have erect setae, their dorsal surfaces are often heavily sculptured, and the pronotal side margin is usually smooth. Corticariinae are finely pubescent, usually have recumbent setae, their dorsal surfaces never have heavy sculpture, and the pronotal side margin is usually serrate.

Ecology

These beetles and their larvae are obligate feeders on the

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...

e and

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s of fungi,

mould A mold () or mould () is one of the structures certain fungi can form. The dust-like, colored appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites. The spores are the dispersal units of the fungi. No ...

s and mildews. They occur in damp places where such fungi are found, under bark, in leaf litter, in decaying plant material, in timber stacked outdoors, and in ant and termite nests. They may be present in ripening cereal crops but will not persist in clean, dry stored grain; however damp grain, or grain heavily contaminated by other insects, will support them. They may infest brewers yeast and contaminate food by introducing mould spores. Species of ''

Dienerella ''Dienerella'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae, containing the following species:Rucker, Wolfgang H. (2010). �Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World. Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World.�� . Retrieved on ...

'' have caused the deterioration of foodstuffs, and hygiene problems in a hospital have been linked to ''

Dienerella filum ''Dienerella filum'', the common plaster beetle, is a species of fungus beetle in the family Latridiidae. It is found in damp conditions in buildings throughout the world, feeding on mould growing on the walls, and on poorly-stored products. ...

''. They have been shown to consume ''

Ustilago ''Ustilago'' is a genus of approximately 200 smut fungi parasitic on grasses. Uses ''Ustilago maydis'' is eaten as a traditional Mexican food in many parts of the country, and is even available canned. Farmers have even been known to spread th ...

'', '' Arcticum'', '' Polysaccum'', ''

Tilletia ''Tilletia'' is a genus of smut fungi in the Tilletiaceae family. Species in this genus are plant pathogens that affect various grasses. '' Tilletia indica'', which causes Karnal bunt of wheat, and '' Tilletia horrida'', responsible for rice ker ...

'', '' Lycoperdon'' and ''

Trichothecium ''Trichothecium'' is a genus of fungi with unknown place in classification. The genus was first described by Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link in 1809. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the ...

''. They also thrive on mixed cultures of '' Penicillium'', '' Mucor'', ''

Botrytis Botrytis may refer to: * ''Botrytis'' (fungus), the anamorphs of fungi of the genus ''Botryotinia'' **''Botrytis cinerea'', a mold important in wine making *Botrytis, the cauliflower cultivar group of ''Brassica oleracea ''Brassica oleracea'' is ...

'' and '' Aspergillus''.

Genera

* Subfamily Latridiinae Erichson 1842 ** ''

Adistemia ''Adistemia'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described sp ...

'' Fall 1899 ** †'' Archelatrius'' Kirejtshuk & Azar 2009 Lebanese amber, Early Cretaceous ( Barremian) ** ''

Besuchetia ''Besuchetia ceylanica'' is a species of beetles in the family Latridiidae, the only species in the genus ''Besuchetia''.Rucker, Wolfgang H. (2010). �Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World. Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of th ...

'' Dajoz 1975 ** ''

Cartodere ''Cartodere'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae, containing the following species: Description Beetles of genus ''Cartodere'' have the pronotum margins deeply incised, eyes large with over 70 facets each, elytra with eight or f ...

'' Thomson 1859 ** ''

Dicastria ''Dicastria temporalis'' is a species of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number o ...

'' Dajoz 1967 ** ''

'' Reitter 1911 ** ''

Enicmus ''Enicmus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae, the minute brown scavenger beetles. There are about 50 species.Bukejs, A., et al. (2012)''Enicmus adrianae'' sp. nov.–a new scavenger beetle (Coleoptera: Latridiidae) from Baltic am ...

'' Thomson 1859 ** ''

Euchionellus ''Euchionellus zanzibaricus'' is a species of beetle in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The numb ...

'' Reitter 1908 ** ''

Eufallia ''Eufallia'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described s ...

'' Muttkowski 1910 ** ''

Eufalloides ''Eufalloides holmesi'' is a species of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number o ...

'' Hinton 1941 ** '' Herfordia'' Halstead 1967 ** ''

Latridius ''Latridius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae, containing the following species:Rucker, Wolfgang H. (2010). �Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World. Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World.�� . Retrieved o ...

'' Herbst 1793 ** ''

Lithostygnus ''Lithostygnus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of describe ...

'' Broun 1886 ** '' Metophthalmoides'' Dajoz 1967 ** ''

Metophthalmus ''Metophthalmus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of descri ...

'' Motschulsky 1850 ** ''

Mumfordia ''Mumfordia'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described ...

'' van Dyke 1935 ** '' Nalpaumia'' Dajoz 1976 ** ''

Revelieria ''Revelieria'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described ...

'' Perris 1869 ** ''

Stephostethus ''Stephostethus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of describ ...

'' LeConte 1878 ** ''

Thes ''Thes'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae, containing the following species:Rucker, Wolfgang H. (2010). �Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World. Checklist Latridiidae & Merophysiinae of the World.�� . Retrieved on 15 ...

'' Semenov Tian-Shansky 1910 * Subfamily Corticariinae Curtis 1829 ** ''

Austrophthalma ''Austrophthalma raffrayi'' is a species of beetle in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number ...

'' Dajoz 1966 ** ''

Bicava ''Bicava'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described spec ...

'' Belon 1884 ** ''

Corticaria ''Corticaria'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described s ...

'' Marsham 1802 ** ''

Corticarina ''Corticarina'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described ...

'' Reitter 1881 ** †'' Corticariites'' Kirejtshuk 2019 Bembridge Marls, United Kingdom, Eocene (

Priabonian The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between . The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of t ...

) ** ''

Corticaromus ''Corticaromus rueckeri'' is a species of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number ...

'' Pal & Ghosh 2007 ** ''

Cortinicara ''Cortinicara'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described ...

'' Johnson 1975 ** '' Fuchsina'' Fall 1899 ** ''

Melanophthalma ''Melanophthalma'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of descri ...

'' Motschulsky 1866 ** '' Migneuxia'' Jacquelin du Val 1859 ** ''

Paracaria ''Paracaria pilosa'' is a species of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of de ...

'' Dajoz 1970 ** ''

Rethusus ''Rethusus'' is a genus of beetles in the family Latridiidae Latridiidae (sometimes spelled "Lathridiidae") is a family of tiny, little-known beetles commonly called minute brown scavenger beetles or fungus beetles. The number of described s ...

'' Broun 1886 ** †'' Succinimontia'' Zherikhin 1977 Taimyr amber, Russia, Late Cretaceous ( Santonian)

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1089678 Coccinelloidea Polyphaga families