Plate-thigh Beetles

Eucinetidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Scirtoidea
Family: Eucinetidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eucinetidae: //juːˈsɪnɪtiːdiː//

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

Images

Summary

Eucinetidae, or plate-thigh beetles, is a small family of beetles characterized by large coxal plates and a diet primarily consisting of fungi. They are found in detritus or under fungal bark, with a distribution that spans worldwide, and have about 50 species in total.

Physical Characteristics

Adults are generally elliptical in shape, ranging from 0.8 to 4.0 mm in length, and are typically black or brown in color. The head is small and bent underneath, with mouthparts that are often modified for suctorial feeding.

Identification Tips

Look for the large coxal plates that cover much of the first ventrite of the abdomen; this is a defining characteristic of plate-thigh beetles.

Habitat

Eucinetids live in detritus or beneath fungus-covered bark of trees.

Distribution

Found worldwide, with about 11 genera and over 50 species, more diverse in Eurasia.

Diet

Larvae feed on a variety of fungi, including spores of slime molds and the fruiting bodies of basidomycete fungi.

Ecosystem Role

Eucinetidae plays a role in decomposing organic matter as they feed on fungi, contributing to nutrient cycling in their ecosystems.