Fungivorous
Guides
Amedia
Amedia is a genus of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) established by Jaschhof in 1997. It belongs to the subfamily Lestremiinae and tribe Strobliellini. The genus comprises small, delicate flies whose larvae develop in association with fungi, particularly on decaying wood.
Bibionomorpha
Gnats and Allies
Bibionomorpha is a diverse infraorder of lower Diptera (Nematocera) containing over 2,000 described species across ten extant families. The group includes economically and ecologically significant families such as Mycetophilidae (fungus gnats), Cecidomyiidae (gall midges), Sciaridae (dark-winged fungus gnats), and Bibionidae (march flies). Larvae are predominantly saprophagous or fungivorous, with the Cecidomyiidae being predominantly gall-formers. The infraorder originated in the Triassic, with major superfamilies diversifying from the late Triassic through the Cretaceous. The Anisopodidae is phylogenetically significant as the presumed sister taxon to the entire suborder Brachycera.
Bolitophagini
Bolitophagini is a tribe of darkling beetles (family Tenebrionidae) comprising more than 20 genera. The tribe is named after its type genus Bolitophagus, whose name derives from Greek meaning 'fungus-eater'. Members are primarily associated with forest habitats and feed on fungi, particularly bracket fungi (polypores). The tribe has a fossil record extending to the Eocene, indicating long-term persistence in forest ecosystems.
Bolitophagus
Bolitophagus is a genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) described by Illiger in 1798. The genus occurs across Eurasia and North America. The best-studied species, Bolitophagus reticulatus, is a saproxylic beetle that develops exclusively in fruiting bodies of the wood-decaying fungus Fomes fomentarius.
Caenocara
puffball beetles
Caenocara is a genus of small beetles in the family Ptinidae (subfamily Dorcatominae), commonly known as puffball beetles. The genus was established by C.G. Thomson in 1859. Members are associated with fungi, particularly puffball mushrooms, which serve as their primary habitat and food source. The genus has been documented across northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Cleroidea
Bark-gnawing, Checkered, and Soft-winged Flower Beetles
Cleroidea is a superfamily of beetles comprising over 10,000 species across approximately 24 families. Members are generally slender with soft, flexible elytra and typically bear hairy or scaly integuments. The superfamily exhibits diverse feeding strategies: predation (Cleridae, Trogossitinae), pollen/nectar consumption (melyrid lineage), and fungivory (many Trogossitidae and smaller families). Aposematic coloration occurs in some groups, particularly Cleridae and Malachiinae, mimicking unpalatable arthropods such as blister beetles, net-winged beetles, and stinging Hymenoptera.
Cryptophagus cf-setulosus
Cryptophagus cf-setulosus is a small beetle in the family Cryptophagidae, commonly known as silken fungus beetles. Species in this genus are associated with fungal substrates and decaying organic matter. The 'cf.' designation indicates this identification is tentative and requires confirmation.
Eupodoidea
Eupodoidea is a superfamily of soft-bodied mites in the order Trombidiformes, comprising approximately nine families and over 160 described species. These mites are primarily terrestrial and occur across diverse environments from temperate grasslands to polar regions. The superfamily exhibits varied feeding strategies, including fungivory, phytophagy, and predation. Some species are economically significant as agricultural pests.
Eustrophinae
Eustrophinae is a subfamily of beetles within the family Tetratomidae, established by Gistel in 1848. These beetles are part of the superfamily Tenebrionoidea and are characterized by their association with fungal habitats. The subfamily includes genera such as Eustrophus and Pseudoholostrophus. Members are small to medium-sized beetles with relatively uniform morphology across the group.
Hallomenus
polypore fungus beetles
Hallomenus is a genus of small beetles in the family Tetratomidae, commonly referred to as polypore fungus beetles. The genus was established by Panzer in 1793 and contains approximately nine described species. Members of this genus are associated with fungi, particularly polypore bracket fungi, which serve as their primary habitat and food source. The genus is distributed across northern regions of Europe and North America.
Lestremiinae
Lestremiine Wood Midges
Lestremiinae is a subfamily of gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) comprising 105 described species across 13 genera. The subfamily is distinguished by larval specialization on fungal substrates. Unlike many Cecidomyiidae that form plant galls, Lestremiinae larvae are primarily fungivorous, inhabiting decaying wood where they consume fungal growth. The group has received substantial taxonomic attention in northern Europe, with ongoing discoveries of new species.
Merothrips
Merothrips is a genus of thrips comprising approximately 19 described species in the family Merothripidae. The genus includes both extant species found in subtropical regions and fossil species preserved in amber. Merothrips species have been documented in South America, particularly Brazil, where multiple species occur in sympatry. A fossil species, Merothrips aithiopicus, was described from Miocene-aged Ethiopian amber.
Merothrips floridensis
Merothrips floridensis is a species of thrips in the family Merothripidae, described by Watson in 1927. The species has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, South America, and Europe. In Brazil, it has been documented living in sympatry with M. meridionalis, M. mirus, and M. tympanis. As a member of Merothripidae, it is likely fungivorous, though specific dietary confirmation for this species is not documented.
Mycetophilini
fungus gnats
Mycetophilini is a tribe of fungus gnats within the family Mycetophilidae, comprising approximately 8 genera and at least 220 described species. Members are small to medium-sized flies associated with fungal habitats. The tribe is distinguished from related groups primarily by genitalic characters and wing venation patterns. Adults are generally found in moist, shaded environments where their larval food sources occur.
Mycodrosophila
mushroom flies
Mycodrosophila is a genus of small vinegar flies comprising approximately 120-130 described species. Members are obligately mycophagous, meaning they depend on fungi throughout their entire life cycle. The genus belongs to the monophyletic Zygothrica genus group alongside Hirtodrosophila, Paramycodrosophila, and Zygothrica. Species are distributed across the Neotropical and Palearctic regions, with some showing transcontinental ranges.
Nanosellini
Nanosellini is a tribe of feather-winged beetles within the family Ptiliidae, first described by Barber in 1924. Members of this tribe are among the smallest known beetles, with most species measuring less than 1 millimeter in length. They belong to the subfamily Ptiliinae, which contains approximately 80% of described feather-winged beetle genera. The tribe is characterized by extreme miniaturization and associated morphological adaptations.
Salpingidae
Narrow-waisted Bark Beetles
Salpingidae is a family of small beetles in the superfamily Tenebrionoidea, commonly known as narrow-waisted bark beetles. The family comprises approximately 45 genera and 300 species distributed globally, with greatest diversity in temperate regions of both hemispheres. Species range from 1.5 to 7 mm in length and are primarily associated with dead or dying wood, where they feed on fungi, organic matter, and occasionally other insects.
Steganinae
Steganinae is the smaller of two subfamilies in the fruit fly family Drosophilidae, established by Hendel in 1917. The subfamily is monophyletic but lacks a single diagnostic morphological character distinguishing it from the larger Drosophilinae. Members display diverse feeding behaviors, with some species exhibiting zoophilic habits unusual for drosophilid flies. The subfamily includes approximately 350 described species across multiple tribes and subtribes, though phylogenetic relationships remain partially unresolved.