Fungivore
Guides
Enicmus tenuicornis
Enicmus tenuicornis is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. The species was described by LeConte in 1878 and is native to North America. Like other members of the genus, it is likely associated with moist, decaying organic matter and fungal growth. The specific epithet 'tenuicornis' refers to its slender antennae.
Eucicones marginalis
Eucicones marginalis is a species of cylindrical bark beetle in the family Zopheridae, described by Melsheimer in 1846. The genus Eucicones belongs to the subfamily Colydiinae, a group commonly known as cylindrical bark beetles due to their elongated, parallel-sided body form. Members of this family are primarily associated with dead and decaying wood, where they feed on fungi or are predatory on other wood-inhabiting insects. The species is documented from North America, with records from Ontario, Canada.
Eugonus
Eugonus is a genus of fungus weevils in the beetle family Anthribidae, established by Schoenherr in 1833. The genus contains approximately 18 described species. As members of Anthribidae, these weevils are associated with fungal substrates rather than living plant tissues. The genus is part of the diverse weevil superfamily Curculionoidea.
Euparius marmoreus
Marbled Fungus Weevil
Euparius marmoreus is a fungus weevil in the family Anthribidae, commonly known as the Marbled Fungus Weevil. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species is associated with polypore fungi, which serve as its food source. It has been documented feeding on fungi in the genera Trametes and Megasporoporia.
Eustrophopsis
Eustrophopsis is a genus of polypore fungus beetles in the family Tetratomidae, containing approximately seven described species. These beetles are associated with fungal habitats, specifically polypore fungi growing on decaying wood. The genus was established by Champion in 1889 and represents one of several lineages within the Eustrophinae subfamily adapted to fungivory.
Hadreule blaisdelli
Hadreule blaisdelli is a species of minute tree-fungus beetle in the family Ciidae. Like other members of this family, it is associated with wood-decaying fungi, particularly bracket fungi (Polyporales), which serve as both habitat and food source. The genus Hadreule is part of a diverse group of small beetles that play specialized roles in forest decomposition systems.
Iphthiminus
Iphthiminus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Tenebrioninae. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in North America. Members are primarily associated with coniferous forests, where they inhabit decaying wood and feed on fungal resources. They are nocturnal and have been observed on the trunks and stumps of recently fallen or cut pines.
Iralunelus politus
Iralunelus politus is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, order Hemiptera. Originally described as Aneurus politus by Thomas Say in 1832, this species has been reclassified into the genus Iralunelus. Aradidae, commonly known as flat bugs or bark bugs, are a family of true bugs characterized by their dorsoventrally flattened bodies adapted for living under bark and in other tight spaces. The family is primarily tropical in distribution, though some species extend into temperate regions of North America.
Laemophloeus
Laemophloeus is the type genus of the family Laemophloeidae, containing 28 valid species following modern taxonomic revision. Species are moderate to large for the family (2–4 mm). The genus occurs in the Palaearctic and Nearctic realms, extending into tropical regions of the New World. Several species are significant pests of stored grain and cereal products.
Latridius
Latridius is a genus of minute brown scavenger beetles in the family Latridiidae, established by Herbst in 1793. The genus contains at least 16 described species distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, North America, and Asia. Species within this genus are small, cryptic beetles associated with decaying plant matter and fungal growth. The genus is part of the superfamily Coccinelloidea, though its members bear little resemblance to the more familiar lady beetles.
Lauxaniidae
Lauxaniid Flies
Lauxaniidae is a family of acalyptrate flies comprising approximately 1800 described species across 126 genera. Adults are small (2–7 mm), often with large, brightly colored compound eyes and variegated wing patterns. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution with highest diversity in tropical Asia and the Americas; species richness declines markedly toward temperate regions. Adults are typically sedentary, associated with shaded, humid forest environments where they feed on leaf-surface fungi. Larvae are primarily saprophagous, developing in decaying plant matter, leaf litter, rotting wood, and bird nests.
Leiodes assimilis
round fungus beetle
Leiodes assimilis is a species of round fungus beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is a small beetle associated with fungal substrates, typical of its genus. The species has been documented across northern North America, with records spanning Canada and the northern United States.
Leiodes puncticollis
Leiodes puncticollis is a small round fungus beetle in the family Leiodidae. The species was originally described by Thomson in 1862 under the basionym Anisotoma puncticollis. It has a broad Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. As a member of the Leiodidae, it is associated with fungal habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Litargus connexus
Litargus connexus is a small beetle in the family Mycetophagidae, commonly known as hairy fungus beetles. The species has a broad distribution across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Both adults and larvae are strongly associated with fungal decomposition of wood, with larvae specializing on particular pyrenomycete fungi.
Litiulus
Litiulus is a monotypic genus of millipedes in the family Parajulidae, containing only Litiulus alaskanus. It is endemic to the northeastern Pacific coastal region, ranging from Tlingit territory in the north to Haida territory in the south. The species is notable for its specialized diet of fungal fruiting bodies and slime molds, and its occurrence in hypermaritime old-growth rainforests.
Litiulus alaskanus
Litiulus alaskanus is a small julid millipede and the sole species in the monotypic genus Litiulus. It is endemic to the northeastern Pacific region, where it inhabits old-growth rainforests. The species is notable for its specialized diet of fungal fruiting bodies and its apparent physiological tolerance for drier conditions than most sympatric millipedes.
Lophocateridae
Lophocateridae is a small family of cleroid beetles comprising over 100 species in 14+ genera. Formerly treated as a subfamily or tribe of Trogossitidae, molecular phylogenetic analyses led to its elevation to family rank in 2019. The family is recovered as sister to Chaetosomatidae and Trogossitidae sensu stricto. Extant species occupy diverse ecological niches including fungivory, herbivory, and predation, primarily in association with dead wood habitats. The family has a fossil record extending to the Early Cretaceous.
Megalodacne
pleasing fungus beetles
Megalodacne is a genus of large fungivorous beetles in the family Erotylidae, distinguished by their size (9–22 mm), large eyes, and distinctive color patterns of yellow, orange, or red markings on the elytra. Adults and larvae feed on hard bracket fungi, particularly Ganoderma and Fomes species. The genus was established by George Robert Crotch in 1873 and is classified in the subfamily Megalodacninae alongside Episcapha and Episcaphula. Species occur across North America, Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia, with some exhibiting nocturnal behavior and attraction to light.
Metalectra diabolica
diabolical fungus moth
Metalectra diabolica is a small moth in the family Erebidae, first described in 1924. It occurs in the southeastern and south-central United States, with adults active primarily during spring and summer months. The species is known to feed on fungi during its larval stage.
Metalectra discalis
Common Fungus Moth
Metalectra discalis, known as the common fungus moth, is a small moth in the family Erebidae. It occurs across eastern and central North America, with adults active primarily during summer months. The species is notable for larval associations with fungi rather than plants.
Metophthalmus septemstriatus
Metophthalmus septemstriatus is a minute beetle in the family Latridiidae, commonly known as plaster beetles or minute brown scavenger beetles. The genus Metophthalmus contains small, inconspicuous species associated with damp, moldy environments. The specific epithet 'septemstriatus' refers to seven stripes, likely describing elytral patterning. Like other latridiids, this species is presumed to feed on fungal spores and hyphae, though direct observations are limited.
Mezira froeschneri
Mezira froeschneri is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, described in 1996 from North American specimens. Like other aradids, it has a highly flattened body adapted for living in tight spaces under bark. The species is known from only a handful of observations, reflecting the cryptic habits and difficulty of sampling this group.
Mezira pacifica
Mezira pacifica is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, described by Usinger in 1936. The species is found in western North America. Flat bugs (Aradidae) are characterized by their extremely flattened bodies and are typically associated with dead wood or bark habitats. As with other members of this family, M. pacifica likely feeds on fungal hyphae through its piercing-sucking mouthparts.
Mezira vanduzeei
Mezira vanduzeei is a species of flat bug in the family Aradidae, described by Usinger in 1936. The species belongs to a family of true bugs known for their extremely flattened bodies, an adaptation for living in narrow spaces under bark and in decaying wood. Like other aradids, this species likely feeds on fungal hyphae in its concealed microhabitats. Records indicate presence in North America, though detailed biological information remains sparse.
Miastor
Miastor is a genus of gall midges and wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, comprising approximately seven described species. The genus is notable for exhibiting paedogenesis, a rare reproductive strategy in which larvae reproduce parthenogenetically without metamorphosing into adults. Multiple asexual generations can occur before adults eventually develop. Larvae have been recorded in diverse habitats including fungal fruiting bodies, dung, tree bark, and decaying plant matter.
Micromyinae
Micromyine Wood Midges
Micromyinae is a subfamily of wood midges in the family Cecidomyiidae, comprising at least 55 genera and more than 650 described species. Members were formerly classified within subfamily Lestremiinae. All species in this subfamily are mycophagous, feeding on fungi. The subfamily includes numerous fossil genera preserved in amber deposits dating from the Albian to Eocene.
Microsternus ulkei
Microsternus ulkei is a species of pleasing fungus beetle in the family Erotylidae. It is native to North America. The species is one of 17 documented observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or underreported. As a member of Erotylidae, it likely feeds on fungal fruiting bodies, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Muscina pascuorum
Pasture Fly, European Scavenger Fly
Muscina pascuorum is a muscid fly native to Europe that has become established across North America. The species is closely allied to M. stabulans and M. levida. It is known to enter homes in autumn and winter, where adults accumulate on windowsills. Larvae develop in fungi, particularly woodland mushrooms, rather than in carrion or manure like many related muscids. The specific epithet 'pascuorum' refers to pastures, reflecting its original European habitat association.
Mycetochara haldemani
Mycetochara haldemani is a species of darkling beetle in the family Tenebrionidae. The genus Mycetochara comprises fungus-feeding beetles, and this species follows that ecological pattern. It is known from scattered observations across North America, with records from the Great Plains region. The specific epithet honors the entomologist Samuel Stehman Haldeman.
Mycetophagidae
Hairy Fungus Beetles
Mycetophagidae, commonly known as hairy fungus beetles, is a family of small beetles in the superfamily Tenebrionoidea. The family comprises approximately 200 species across 18 genera worldwide. Species range from 1.0 to 6.5 mm in length. Both larvae and adults inhabit decaying leaf litter, fungi, and subcortical environments, with most species feeding on fungi.
Mycetophagus fulvicollis
Mycetophagus fulvicollis is a species of hairy fungus beetle in the family Mycetophagidae, first described by Fabricius in 1792. This small beetle is associated with fungal decay in wood and is part of the diverse community of insects that colonize dead and decaying timber. The species has a broad distribution across Europe and extends into parts of Asia.
Mycomya
fungus gnats
Mycomya is a large genus of fungus gnats (family Mycetophilidae) containing at least 400 described species. Members are small flies associated with fungal habitats. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with records from multiple continents including South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Some species show cold adaptation and winter activity patterns.
Nemapogon variatella
Pale Corn Clothes Moth
Nemapogon variatella is a small tineid moth with a wingspan of approximately 12 mm. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America where established populations have been documented. The species is associated with fungal and detrital food sources, with larvae recorded feeding on bracket fungi including Coriolus versicolor, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Polyporus squamosus.
Neoempheria illustris
Neoempheria illustris is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Johannsen in 1910. It belongs to a genus of approximately 1,100 species distributed across South and Central America. The species was the first Neoempheria documented from South America with confirmed larval associations to host fungi, representing a significant contribution to understanding Neotropical fungivore diversity.
Neoempheria macularis
Neoempheria macularis is a species of fungus gnat in the family Mycetophilidae, first described by Johannsen in 1910. It belongs to a genus containing over 1,100 species in South and Central America. The species was the first Neoempheria species documented with confirmed larval associations with fungi in the Neotropical region, specifically reared from mushrooms in Brazil.
Neuroctenus unistellatus
Neuroctenus unistellatus is a flat bug species in the family Aradidae, described from North America in 1994. Flat bugs in this genus are characterized by their extremely dorsoventrally flattened bodies, an adaptation associated with living under bark or in other tight spaces. The species epithet "unistellatus" suggests a distinctive single spotting or marking pattern. Like other aradids, it likely inhabits forested environments where it feeds on fungal hyphae.
Octotemnus
tree-fungus beetles
Octotemnus is a genus of minute tree-fungus beetles in the family Ciidae. Species in this genus are specialist fungivores that inhabit and feed on the fruiting bodies of polypore fungi. Research on Octotemnus laminifrons has revealed substantial cryptic species diversity, with multiple genetically and morphologically distinct species previously hidden under one name. Some species have been documented to significantly reduce the reproductive fitness of their host fungi through feeding damage to the spore-producing hymenium.
Oxyporinae
Cross-toothed Rove Beetles
Oxyporinae is a subfamily of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing a single genus, Oxyporus, with approximately 132 species distributed worldwide. These beetles are obligate fungivores with a life cycle tightly linked to fungi. They are notable for their distinctive mandibular and mouthpart morphology.
Oxyporus mexicanus
Oxyporus mexicanus is a species of rove beetle (Staphylinidae) in the subfamily Oxyporinae. The genus Oxyporus is characterized by distinctive morphological adaptations for mycophagy, including modified mouthparts for feeding on fungal substrates. This species was described by Fauvel in 1865 and is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Oxyporus rufipennis
Oxyporus rufipennis is a rove beetle in the subfamily Oxyporinae, characterized by relatively large size within the family and distinctive reddish wing covers. The species occurs across northeastern North America, with records spanning Canada and the eastern United States. Like other members of Oxyporus, it is associated with fungal habitats, particularly polypore bracket fungi on decaying wood.
Pegomya geniculata
Pegomya geniculata is a small fly in the family Anthomyiidae, known for its specialized relationship with fungi. The species has been documented breeding within the fruiting bodies of mushrooms, particularly Verpa bohemica. Its known distribution spans western Europe and eastern North America.
Penthe
velvety bark beetles
Penthe is a genus of polypore fungus beetles in the family Tetratomidae, comprising at least nine described species. The genus is the type genus of the subfamily Penthinae. Adults and larvae are saproxylic, feeding on fungi associated with decaying wood. The genus has a complex taxonomic history, having been placed in Tenebrionidae, Melandryidae, and finally Tetratomidae based on larval and adult morphological characters.
Phloeodes
diabolical ironclad beetle
Phloeodes is a genus of ironclad beetles in the family Zopheridae, native to western North America. The genus includes the well-known species Phloeodes diabolicus, commonly called the diabolical ironclad beetle, which has attracted scientific attention for its exceptional mechanical durability. Members of this genus are flightless, have heavily sclerotized exoskeletons, and feed on fungi growing under tree bark. The genus has been synonymized with Nosoderma in some taxonomic treatments, though Phloeodes remains in widespread use.
Pinodytes
Pinodytes is a genus of small, eyeless beetles in the family Leiodidae, containing at least 40 described species. These beetles are exclusively subterranean, inhabiting soil habitats where they feed on fungal material. The genus was established by Horn in 1880 and belongs to the tribe Catopocerini within the subfamily Catopocerinae. Their eyeless condition reflects complete adaptation to life in darkness.
Pinodytes gibbosus
Pinodytes gibbosus is a small, eyeless soil-dwelling beetle in the family Leiodidae. It inhabits leaf litter in California and feeds on fungi. The species was formally described in 2011, making it a relatively recent addition to the taxonomic literature. Its lack of eyes and subterranean habits reflect adaptations to a life spent primarily in dark, decomposing organic matter.
Pinodytes newelli
Pinodytes newelli is a small, eyeless beetle in the family Leiodidae. It inhabits soil environments and has been observed in Oregon and Washington. The species belongs to a genus specialized for subterranean life, with reduced visual structures.
Pinodytes newtoni
Pinodytes newtoni is an eyeless, soil-dwelling beetle in the family Leiodidae. It is a fungivore, feeding on fungal material in subterranean habitats. The species was described in 2011 and is known from North America.
Platydema
Platydema is a genus of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae, subfamily Diaperinae) comprising at least 60 described species. Multiple species have been documented as obligately associated with fungal fruiting bodies, with some exhibiting monophagy on specific bracket fungi. The genus has a broad geographic distribution including Asia, Europe, and North America.
Platydesmida
Feather Millipedes
Platydesmida is an order of millipedes containing two families (Andrognathidae and Platydesmidae) and over 60 described species. Members are characterized by a strongly flattened body with lateral extensions (paranota) on each segment. The order is notable for containing some of the few documented examples of paternal care in arthropods, with males of certain species coiling around and guarding eggs and young. The only known fossil record consists of a specimen from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber (~100 Ma) belonging to the extant genus Andrognathus.
Platypezidae
Flat-footed Flies
Platypezidae is a family of small true flies (Diptera) comprising over 250 species worldwide. Adults are commonly known as flat-footed flies due to their characteristically modified tarsal segments, particularly in males. The family is primarily associated with woodland habitats where larvae develop as fungivores. Adults exhibit distinctive swarming behavior for mating and are frequently observed performing rapid, erratic movements on vegetation. The family was formerly broader in circumscription, with Opetiidae and some genera now placed in Atelestidae removed based on phylogenetic evidence.