Cerylonidae

Definition

A family of small to minute beetles in the superfamily Coccinelloidea, characterized by smooth, shiny, nearly hairless integument with only light punctation. The family comprises approximately 450 species in roughly 50 genera, distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions. Members are predominantly found under bark of dead wood or in decaying plant matter such as compost; their feeding ecology remains poorly documented but is hypothesized to involve predation on microfauna or mycophagy.

Etymology

From the type genus Cerylon, with the family suffix -idae

Example

Cerylon unicolor, a widespread North American species, is frequently collected in Lindgren funnel traps baited with ethanol near standing dead hardwoods.

Related Terms

• Coccinelloidea
• Coleoptera
• saproxylic
• myrmecophilous
• Colydiinae

Usage Notes

Formerly placed in the heterogeneous group 'Colydiidae' or treated as a subfamily thereof; modern molecular phylogenetics supports family rank within Coccinelloidea. The family is taxonomically challenging due to small body size (often <3 mm), reduced wing venation, and subtle diagnostic characters requiring slide-mounted specimens for reliable identification. Not to be confused with the superficially similar but unrelated family Sphaerosomatidae (superficially similar small round fungus beetles).