Mycotretus

Lacordaire, 1842

pleasing fungus beetles

Species Guides

1

Mycotretus is a large of pleasing fungus beetles in the Erotylidae, with at least 204 described . It is the second most speciose genus in the family and is primarily distributed in the Neotropical region. Species are mycophagous, feeding on fungi. The genus exhibits substantial intraspecific morphological variation, which has complicated historical . Male and female genitalia, particularly the penial and metendosternite, provide important diagnostic characters for species identification.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mycotretus: /maɪkəˈtriːtəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

identification requires examination of male and female genitalia; the penial and metendosternite provide diagnostic characters. External alone is often insufficient due to pronounced intraspecific variation in coloration and pattern.

Distribution

Neotropical region.

Diet

Mycophagous. M. apicalis has been reared on dried Pleurotus sajor-caju mushrooms. M. chilensis and M. trifasciatus are associated with fungi (specific not identified in available sources).

Host Associations

  • Pleurotus sajor-caju - rearing substrate/food sourceLaboratory rearing of M. apicalis
  • fungi (unspecified) - food sourceM. chilensis and M. trifasciatus; specific fungal not identified in available sources

Life Cycle

M. apicalis completes development from to in approximately 22 days under laboratory conditions, with four larval instars. time is about three weeks. Adult longevity averages 89.7 days.

Human Relevance

M. apicalis has been observed in cultivations of Pleurotus sajor-caju in Minas Gerais, Brazil, where it has potential to become a pest due to its rapid increase.

Sources and further reading