Fog-basking
Guides
Tenebrionidae
Darkling beetles, Чернотелки
Tenebrionidae is one of the largest families of beetles, with more than 20,000 described species distributed globally. Members are predominantly detritivores, consuming decaying plant matter, fungi, and lichens. The family exhibits remarkable ecological diversity, from desert sand dunes to forest floor habitats. Several species are significant pests of stored products, while others serve as important decomposers and bioindicators of ecosystem health. Notable adaptations include fog-basking behavior in desert-dwelling genera and chemical defense mechanisms in many species.