Erotylidae, or the pleasing fungus beetles, is a family of beetles containing over 100 genera. In the present circumscription, it includes the subfamilies Dacninae, Encaustinae, Erotylinae, Megalodacninae, and Tritominae. In other words, the narrowly circumscribed Erotylidae correspond to the subfamily Erotylinae in the definition sensu lato. They feed on plant and fungal matter; some are important pollinators (e.g. of the ancient cycads), while a few have gained notoriety as pests of some significance. Sometimes, useful and harmful species are found in one genus, e.g. Pharaxonotha. Most pleasing fungus beetles, however, are inoffensive animals of little significance to humans.
Selected genera
References
Media related to Erotylidae at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Erotylidae at Wikispecies
- R. A. B. Leschen (2003). Erotylidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cucujoidea): phylogeny and review (Part 1). Fauna of New Zealand 47 (Manaaki Whenua Press, New Zealand). pp. 108 pp. ISBN 0-478-09350-0.Â
- J. A. Robertson, J. V. McHugh & M. F. Whiting (2004). "A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the pleasing fungus beetles (Coleoptera: Erotylidae): evolution of colour patterns, gregariousness and mycophagy". Systematic Entomology 29 (2): 173â€"187. doi:10.1111/j.0307-6970.2004.00242.x.Â
- T. Sen Gupta & R. A. Crowson (1971). "A review of the classification of the family Languriidae (Coleoptera: Clavicornia) and the place of Languriidae in the natural system of Clavicornia". Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India 15 (2): 1â€"42.Â
- P. WÄ™grzynowicz (2002). "Morphology, phylogeny and classification of the family Erotylidae based on adult characters (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea)" (PDF). Genus 13 (4): 435â€"504.Â
External links
- Key to the British species of family Erotylidae
