Diaperis

Geoffroy, 1762

Species Guides

Diaperis californica
Diaperis maculata(Two-spotted Diaperis)
Diaperis nigronotata(Five-spotted Diaperis)
Diaperis rufipes

Diaperis is a of darkling beetles in the Tenebrionidae, established by Geoffroy in 1762. occur across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The genus includes mycophagous species such as D. boleti, which feeds on wood-decomposing fungi. Some species were formerly classified under the genus Allophasia.

Diaperis californica by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Diaperis nigronotata by (c) Annika Lindqvist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Annika Lindqvist. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Diaperis: //diˈapɛrɪs//

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

Images

Habitat

Arboricolous including pine forests, deciduous forests, floodplain forests, and forest edges. Associated with wood-decomposing polypore fungi on living or dying trees.

Distribution

Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Documented from Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, and the United States (Vermont).

Diet

Mycophagous. At least one , D. boleti, feeds on wood-decomposing polypore fungi including Fomitopsis betulina, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Cerioporus squamosus.

Host Associations

Fomitopsis betulina - food sourcePolypore fungus on which D. boleti feeds
Laetiporus sulphureus - food sourcePolypore fungus on which D. boleti feeds
Cerioporus squamosus - food sourcePolypore fungus on which D. boleti feeds
Betula sp. - tree for associated fungi
Cerasus avium - tree for associated fungi
Salix sp. - tree for associated fungi
Populus sp. - tree for associated fungi
Acer sp. - tree for associated fungi

Behavior

Infests polypore fungi. Serves as specific phoretic for the mite Lasioseius boleti.

Ecological Role

Mycophagous consumer of wood-decomposing fungi; for phoretic mites.

Similar Taxa

AllophasiaSome Diaperis were formerly placed in this ; taxonomic distinction requires examination of historical literature.
SerraniaThe formerly described as Diaperis viridula is now classified as Serrania viridula, indicating historical confusion between these .

More Details

Taxonomic History

Some were formerly placed in the Allophasia. A species described in this genus, now Serrania viridula (Zayas, 1989), has been reclassified.

Mite Associations

Diaperis boleti serves as the specific phoretic for the blattisociid mite Lasioseius boleti sp. nov., described from Slovakia in 2020.