Synchroidae

Definition

A small family of tenebrionoid beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) comprising three extant genera—Mallodrya, Synchroa, and Synchroina—with nine described species distributed across North America, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Adults are nocturnal and moderately sized (10–13 mm); larvae feed on decaying cambium of deciduous trees. The family lacks a vernacular common name and is characterized by its disjunct trans-Pacific distribution and specialized larval ecology in dead wood.

Etymology

Example

Synchroa punctata, a North American species, exemplifies the family's ecology: its larvae tunnel beneath bark of decaying hardwoods, consuming rotting cambium, while adults are collected at light or found resting under bark at night.

Related Terms

• Tenebrionoidea
• cambium
• saproxylic
• Mallodrya
• Synchroa
• disjunct distribution

Usage Notes

A minor beetle family often overlooked in regional faunal surveys due to low species diversity and nocturnal habits. The trans-Pacific distribution pattern (western North America and East/Southeast Asia) is noteworthy biogeographically. Not to be confused with similarly named groups in other insect orders.