Kateretidae

W. Kirby, 1837

Short-winged Flower Beetles

Kateretidae, commonly known as , is a of small in the superfamily . The family contains 10 extant and 4 extinct with at least 40 described distributed worldwide except New Zealand. feed on flowers (anthophagous), while develop within flower corollas where they consume pollen (spermatophagous). The family has been the subject of taxonomic revision, with several amber fossils originally described as kateretids subsequently reclassified to other families.

Brachypterus by (c) Paul Cook, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Paul Cook. Used under a CC-BY license.

Kateretes by (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Brachypterus urticae by no rights reserved, uploaded by Tero Linjama. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Kateretidae: /kætəˈrɛtɪdiː/

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Identification

Kateretidae are distinguished from the closely related () by their shortened that leave several abdominal tergites exposed. The is characterized by compact bodies, short with weakly clubbed tips, and reduced . Accurate identification to or level typically requires examination of and other microscopic features.

Images

Habitat

Associated with flowers; and occur in floral .

Distribution

Worldwide distribution except New Zealand. Documented from the Maritime provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island), Iran (North and Southwest regions), and Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden).

Diet

are anthophagous, feeding on flowers. are spermatophagous, consuming pollen within flower corollas.

Life Cycle

develop inside flower corollas.

Ecological Role

Flower visitors; feed on pollen within flowers.

Similar Taxa

NitidulidaeClosely related in the same superfamily ; distinguished by Kateretidae having more exposing more of the , and different structure. Several fossils originally described as Kateretidae have been reclassified to Apophisandrinae or family Apophisandridae.

More Details

Fossil record

The includes four extinct : †Eoceniretes (Eocene), †Lebanoretes (Early , Lebanese amber). Several Cretaceous Kachin amber fossils originally described as kateretids (Cretaretes, Electrumeretes, Furcalabratum, Pelretes, Polliniretes, Protokateretes, Scaporetes) were subsequently argued to belong to the Apophisandrinae or the separate family Apophisandridae. The claim that Pelretes was a of angiosperms based on associated pollen in coprolites has been questioned.

Taxonomic history

Authored by W. Kirby in 1837. Formerly treated as a of by some authors, now generally recognized as a distinct within . The superfamily placement has varied, with some placing Kateretidae in Nitiduloidea rather than Cucujoidea.