Cryptophagus

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Cryptophagus
Cryptophagus cellaris.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Cryptophagidae
Tribe: Cryptophagini
Genus: Cryptophagus
Herbst, 1863
Species

see text

Cryptophagus is a genus of beetles in the family Cryptophagidae, the silken fungus beetles. It is distributed across all the biogeographic realms of the world. [1] Like most of the other beetles in the family, [1] these are fungivores, feeding on fungal spores and hyphae. [2]

These beetles are flattened and oval in shape, and are generally 2 to 3 millimeters long. They are reddish to dark brown, sometimes with yellowish patterns on the elytra. The thorax is often sculptured with teeth, angles, or other projections. Some are hairy. The larva is usually yellow-brown and cylindrical but flattened, with visible legs. [2]

Some species are considered pests when they inhabit stores of grain, flour, bread, dried fruit, and other products, however, the beetles feed on fungi growing on the food product rather than the product itself. They also breed in the fungi, laying eggs in the hyphae. They are more common in products that are damp and moldy. The beetles can transmit fungal spores to products, encouraging mold growth. In Canada the beetles are common in the grain-producing prairie regions. [2]

These beetles can be found in other habitats where fungi are available, such as beehives, the nests of other hymenopterans such as wasps and ants, rodent nests, and wool. [3]

Species include: [4]

Cryptophagus corticinus Cryptophagus.corticinus.-.lindsey.jpg
Cryptophagus corticinus
Cryptophagus lemonchei Cryptophagus lemonchei.jpg
Cryptophagus lemonchei

Some fossil species have been discovered in amber and as compression fossils in rock: [1]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryptophagidae</span> Family of beetles

Cryptophagidae is a family of beetles with representatives found in all biogeographic realms. Members of this family are commonly called silken fungus beetles and both adults and larvae appear to feed exclusively on fungi although in a wide variety of habitats and situations, such as rotting wood and shed animal fur and feathers. These beetles vary from about 1 to 11 millimeters long, and usually have an oval body shape with a slight "waist".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ptiliidae</span> Family of beetles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latridiidae</span> Family of beetles

Latridiidae 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fungivore</span> Organism that consumes fungi

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<i>Palaeoagaracites</i> Extinct genus of fungi

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Cryptophagus subfumatus is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia and North America.

<i>Cryptophagus saginatus</i> Species of beetle

Cryptophagus saginatus is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America and Europe.

Cryptophagus varus, the sigmoid fungus beetle, is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America.

<i>Cryptophagus corticinus</i> Species of beetle

Cryptophagus corticinus is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America and Europe.

Cryptophagus difficilis is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America.

Cryptophagus laticollis is a silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1849. It is found in Europe, northern Asia and North America.

<i>Cryptophagus cellaris</i> Species of beetle

Cryptophagus cellaris, known generally as the cellar beetle or cellar fungus beetle, is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in Europe and Northern Asia and North America.

Cryptophagus latens is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America.

Cryptophagus stromus is a species of silken fungus beetle in the family Cryptophagidae. It is found in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyclaxyridae</span> Family of beetles

Cyclaxyridae are a family of beetles in the superfamily Cucujoidea. The only living genus is Cyclaxyra, with two species endemic to New Zealand. Other species have been named from fossils. They are also known as sooty mould beetles due to the association of Cyclaxyra with sooty mould. The extant species are mycophagous, feeding on spores, conidia, and hyphae.

2017 in paleoentomology is a list of new fossil insect taxa that were described during the year 2017, as well as other significant discoveries and events related to paleoentomology that were scheduled to occur during the year.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lyubarsky, G. Y. and E. E. Perkovsky. (2011). Third contribution on Rovno amber silken fungus beetles: a new Eocene species of Cryptophagus (Coleoptera, Clavicornia, Cryptophagidae). ZooKeys (130), 255-61.
  2. 1 2 3 Cryptophagus spp. Canadian Grain Commission. 2013.
  3. 1 2 Lyubarsky, G. Y. and E. E. Perkovsky. (2012). The first Eocene species of the genus Cryptophagus (Coleoptera, Clavicornia, Cryptophagidae). Vestnik Zoologii 46(1), 83-87.
  4. ↑ Cryptophagus. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
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