Peltidae
W. Kirby, 1837
bark-gnawing beetles
Genus Guides
1Peltidae is a of bark-gnawing beetles in the superfamily Cleroidea, established based on molecular phylogenetic studies and previously treated as part of Trogossitidae sensu lato. The family contains a single extant , Peltis, with distributed in North America and Europe. These beetles are saproxylic, associated with deadwood and wood-inhabiting fungi in natural forest .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Peltidae: /ˈpɛltɪˌdeɪ/
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Habitat
Natural forests; associated with large-sized deadwood and wood-inhabiting fungi. In Poland, are restricted to natural forests where they are sometimes abundant.
Distribution
North America and Europe. Documented in Poland (Peltis ferruginea, P. grossa) and Montana, USA.
Diet
Wood-inhabiting fungi (-level association based on preference).
Behavior
Bark-gnawing activity ( basis).
Ecological Role
Saproxylic contributing to decomposition processes in natural forests.
Human Relevance
Peltis ferruginea has been suggested for inclusion on the Polish Red List of Animals due to restricted distribution and specificity.
Similar Taxa
- TrogossitidaeFormerly included within Trogossitidae sensu lato; separated based on molecular data. Peltidae now treated as distinct in Cleroidea.
- LophocateridaeAnother split from Trogossitidae sensu lato based on molecular ; shares superfamily Cleroidea but differs in and .
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Trogossitidae, Lophocateridae, Peltidae and Thymalidae (Coleoptera: Cleroidea) of Poland: distribution, biology and conservation
- The Bark-Gnawing Beetles of Montana, USA (Coleoptera: Trogossitidae, Peltidae, and Lophocateridae), Including New Substantial Distributional Records for Tenebroides collaris (Sturm)