Throscidae

Laporte, 1840

Small false click beetles

Genus Guides

3

is a of small elateroid beetles commonly known as false click beetles. The family contains approximately 150 in 5 extant , distributed worldwide except New Zealand. are short-lived and capable of the clicking mechanism characteristic of some elateroids. Larvae are soil-dwelling and have been observed siphoning fluids from mycorrhizae associated with tree roots.

Throscidae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Trixagus by (c) Donald Hobern, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Trixagus by (c) Victor Engel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Victor Engel. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Throscidae: /θrɒˈsiːdiː/

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Images

Habitat

Saproxylic (wood-associated) ; larvae soil-dwelling in association with tree root mycorrhizae. show high habitat specificity and demanding requirements regarding their habitat.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution except New Zealand. Documented from Europe (including France, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Cyprus, Greece), Colombia (Chocó), and other regions. Nine recorded from the Geneva basin (France/Switzerland border region), with one additional species potentially present but not yet recorded.

Diet

Larvae siphon fluid from mycorrhizae attached to tree roots. feeding habits not documented.

Host Associations

  • Tree mycorrhizae - larval food sourceLarvae siphon fluids from mycorrhizal fungi associated with tree roots

Behavior

males perform a complex mating dance. Adults are capable of clicking, a mechanism shared with some other elateroid beetles. Adults are short-lived.

Ecological Role

Saproxylic contribute to wood decomposition and forest processes. In the Geneva basin region, saproxylic species are recognized as having high conservation value due to rarity and strict specificity.

Similar Taxa

More Details

Extant genera

Aulonothroscus Horn, 1890; Cryptophthalma Cobos, 1982; Pactopus LeConte, 1868; Potergus Bonvouloir, 1871; Trixagus Kugelann, 1794

Fossil record

Seven fossil known from Baltic amber (Eocene) and Lebanese/Burmese amber (Early-Late Cretaceous): †Jaira, †Potergosoma, †Rhomboaspis, †Trixagosoma, †Tyrannothroscus, †Captopus, †Electrothroscus, †Pseudopactopus

Taxonomic note

Trixagus minutus Rey, previously synonymized with T. obtusus, has been validated as a distinct belonging to the T. atticus group

Sources and further reading