Tenebrionoidea

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tenebrionoidea: /tɛnɛbrɪɔːnɔɪˈdeɪə/

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Summary

Tenebrionoidea is a vast and diverse superfamily of beetles, featuring a wide range of morphologies and feeding strategies. It includes families such as Tenebrionidae, Aderidae, and Meloidae. These beetles show remarkable adaptability, especially in arid environments.

Physical Characteristics

Most adults have 5 tarsomeres on fore- and midlegs, and 4 tarsomeres on hindleg (tarsal formula 5-5-4).

Identification Tips

Hind trochanters almost always oblique and triangular, usually small, not fully separating hind femora from coxae.

Habitat

Many families inhabit arid environments and display a remarkable diversity in such habitats.

Distribution

Predominantly distributed around the globe, with numerous species found in a variety of ecosystems, including diverse habitats in arid regions.

Diet

Many families are fungus feeders; others feed on wood, decaying plant material, and pollen. Some species are predators or feed on living plant tissue.

Life Cycle

Larval forms range from sub-parallel and slightly flattened to cylindrical, strongly flattened, or c-shaped/grub-like depending on the ecological niche they occupy.

Ecosystem Role

Tenebrionoidea play significant ecological roles, including decomposition and nutrient cycling, and some act as ectoparasitoids of other insects.

Economic Impact

Some families, such as blister beetles (Meloidae), may have economic significance due to their interactions with crops.

Evolution

Related to earlier classifications as Heteromera; the largest family, Tenebrionidae, contains approximately 20,000 species, indicating significant adaptive radiation within the superfamily.