Tetratomidae

Billberg, 1820

polypore fungus beetles

Subfamily Guides

Eustrophinae
Hallomenus(polypore fungus beetles)
Penthe(velvety bark beetles)
Piseninae
Sphindociinae
Tetratoma

is a small of beetles in the superfamily Tenebrionoidea, commonly known as polypore . The family was historically classified within Melandryidae but is now recognized as distinct based on larval and morphological characters. Members are found worldwide and are specialized consumers of fungal fruiting bodies. The family includes several extant as well as fossil genera from Cretaceous amber deposits.

Pisenus by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Tetratoma tessellata by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.

Tetratoma truncorum by (c) christine123, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by christine123. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tetratomidae: //tɛtrəˈtɒmɪdiː//

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

Identification

can be distinguished from the related Melandryidae by a combination of and larval morphological characters. Adults are typically small beetles associated with woody substrates and fungal fruiting bodies. Specific diagnostic features require examination of mouthpart structure, tarsal formula, and other detailed morphological traits. The family is often grouped with other '' families (Erotylidae, Endomychidae, Mycetophagidae, Ciidae) in ecological surveys, but precise identification to family level requires taxonomic expertise.

Images

Habitat

Forest , associated with coarse woody debris and fungal fruiting bodies. and larvae are found on or within fruiting bodies of various fungi growing on rotting wood.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution. Documented from North America, Europe (including Lithuania where 4 confirmed, representing 50% of European fauna), Asia (China, Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Oriental Region), and fossil records from Cretaceous amber in Myanmar, France, and Russia.

Diet

Specialized fungivores feeding on fresh or decaying fruiting bodies of various fungi, particularly polypore fungi (Basidiomycota: Hymenomycetes) such as Polyporus, Piptoporus, and Fomitopsis.

Host Associations

Polyporus - food sourcepolypore fungus
Piptoporus - food sourcepolypore fungus
Fomitopsis - food sourcepolypore fungus
Pleurotus - food sourceoyster mushroom ; observation from Kansas, USA

Behavior

are . Both adults and larvae feed on fungal fruiting bodies. Adults have been observed flying to and aggregating on mushroom clusters.

Ecological Role

Decomposers specializing in consumption of fungal fruiting bodies; contribute to nutrient cycling in forest by breaking down fungal associated with coarse woody debris.

Similar Taxa

MelandryidaeHistorically included many ; distinguished by morphological characters of and larvae
ErotylidaeAnother of 'pleasing fungus beetles' with similar ecological association with fungi
Endomychidae'Handsome fungus beetles' with similar and diet
Ciidae'Minute tree-fungus beetles' that occupy similar on wood-decaying fungi
Mycetophagidae'Hairy fungus beetles' with overlapping preferences

More Details

Taxonomic history

Most now in were formerly classified in Melandryidae. The placement was unsettled until Crowson (1955) and Lawrence (1982) established Tetratomidae as distinct based on morphological evidence. The genus Penthe, type genus of Penthinae, was transferred from Tenebrionidae to Melandryidae and finally to Tetratomidae.

Fossil record

Several fossil are known from Cretaceous amber: Allostrophus and Thescelostrophus from Burmese amber (Myanmar), Synchrotronia from Charentese amber (France), Cretosynstrophus from Burmese amber, and Pseudohallomenus from Taimyr amber (Russia). Archistrophus filicornis was described from Cretaceous Kachin amber.