Ant-nest-associates
Guides
Chelonariidae
turtle beetles
Chelonariidae, commonly known as turtle beetles, is a small family of beetles in the superfamily Byrrhoidea. The family contains approximately 300 described species across three extant genera: Chelonarium, Brounia, and Pseudochelonarium. Members are characterized by heavily sclerotized exoskeletons and a remarkable ability to retract their limbs into socket-like body cavities. Their ecology remains poorly understood, though associations with orchid roots and the nests of ants and termites have been reported.