Cucujoidea

Distinguished from other cucujiform superfamilies by combination of internal characters: open procoxal cavities, concealed female tergite VIII, membranous male tergite X, and specific tarsal formulas. Distinguished from Coccinelloidea (which formerly included many of its families) by molecular and morphological phylogenetic evidence. Diverse 'bark beetle' lineages within Cucujoidea are not true bark beetles (Scolytinae, Curculionoidea) and lack the rostrum characteristic of weevils.

Predominantly cryptic habitats: fungi, leaf litter, and dead wood. Some families in flowers (Kateretidae, some Phalacridae). Nitidulidae particularly varied: saprophagous and mycetophagous species, plus carrion, flower, insect nest, and stored food associations. Cavognathidae inhabit bird nests.

Cosmopolitan distribution encompassing all major biogeographic regions. Specific family distributions vary: Tasmosalpingidae endemic to Australia; Cavognathidae in Argentina and adjacent countries; Helotidae in Asia with records from China, Chongqing, and elsewhere.

Predominantly mycetophagous (fungus-feeding) and saprophagous. Kateretidae and some Phalacridae feed on flowers. Some Nitidulidae associated with carrion, insect nests, or stored food products. Sphindidae feed on myxomycetes (slime molds).

Complete metamorphosis with egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Larvae of most families develop in fungi, leaf litter, or dead wood. Cavognathidae larvae found in bird nests with multiple instars observed. Specific developmental details vary among families.

Cryptic habits with most species concealed in microhabitats. Nitidulidae exhibit behavioral diversity matching their varied ecological associations. Cavognathidae adults most abundant in closed mud nests of Furnarius rufus, larvae in wood nest boxes. Nocturnal activity in some lineages.

Decomposers in forest ecosystems through consumption of fungi and decaying organic matter. Early-diverged lineages include among the first beetle pollinators of gymnosperms and early angiosperms appearing by late Jurassic. Some species are pests of stored products.

Some Nitidulidae are pests of stored food products. Historical ship-timber pest in related groups (Lymexylidae, sometimes associated with Cucujoidea). Subject of extensive taxonomic and phylogenetic study due to morphological diversity and evolutionary significance.

• CoccinelloideaFormerly included within Cucujoidea; separated based on molecular and morphological phylogenetic evidence. Lady beetles (Coccinellidae) now placed in Coccinelloidea.
• CurculionoideaTrue bark beetles (Scolytinae) are weevils with rostrum, unlike the diverse 'bark beetle' lineages within Cucujoidea which lack this structure.
• ChrysomeloideaClose phylogenetic relationship supported by sperm ultrastructure and molecular data; distinguished by morphological and ecological differences.

The term 'bark beetles' has been applied to unrelated lineages within Cucujoidea, causing confusion with true bark beetles (Scolytinae, Curculionoidea). These groups are not closely related and differ fundamentally in morphology and classification.

• beetles
• fungus beetles
• bark beetles
• sap beetles
• decomposers
• cryptic habits
• Cucujiformia

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Lymexylidae | Beetles In The Bush
• Beetle Collecting 101: How to rear wood-boring beetles | Beetles In The Bush
• The Sperm Ultrastructure of the Nitidulidae Meligethes flavimanus (Stephens, 1830) and of the Phalacridae Olibrus affinis (Sturm. 1807) (Coleoptera Cucujoidea)
• The family Cavognathidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) in Argentina and adjacent countries
• Distribution and Synonymy in New World Litostilbus Guillebeau (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Phalacridae)
• New records and distribution updates of Helota species from China (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea: Helotidae)
• A synopsis of the Endomychidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) of Mexico
• Review of the Australian endemic genus Tasmosalpingus Lea, 1919 (Coleoptera, Cucujoidea, Tasmosalpingidae)
• New records of myxomycophagous beetle family Sphindidae (Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) from Bulgaria
• Taxonomic notes on the little-known genus Metahelotella Kirejtshuk (Coleoptera, Cucujoidea, Helotidae) from southwestern China, with description of a new species and two new records.