Sap-feeding-beetles
Guides
Amphicrossinae
Amphicrossinae is a subfamily of sap-feeding beetles within Nitidulidae, represented by a single genus Amphicrossus Erichson, 1843. The subfamily contains approximately nine described species with a cosmopolitan distribution spanning all major zoogeographical realms. Historical biogeographic analysis indicates an African origin in the Lower Tertiary, followed by multiple dispersal events across continents driven by plate tectonics, sea level changes, and climate fluctuations.
Colopterus
Colopterus is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, containing approximately 10 described species. Species in this genus are associated with fermenting substrates and plant material. At least one species, C. truncatus, has been documented as a seed predator of Inga marginata and produces male-specific aggregation pheromones.
Conotelus
obscure sap beetle
Conotelus is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, established by Erichson in 1843. The genus contains at least four described species, including the obscure sap beetle (Conotelus obscurus). Members of this genus are part of the subfamily Cillaeinae and tribe Conotelini. They are found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Cychramus
Cychramus is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, established by Kugelann in 1794. The genus comprises approximately six described species distributed across the Holarctic region. Members of this genus are associated with fermenting plant sap and fungal substrates. They are small beetles typical of the sap beetle guild, though specific ecological details for the genus remain limited.
Cyllodes
Cyllodes is a genus of small beetles in the family Nitidulidae, established by Erichson in 1843. The genus comprises approximately 14 described species. Members of this genus are classified as sap-feeding beetles, placing them within the ecological guild of organisms that utilize plant exudates and fermenting materials. The genus belongs to the tribe Cyllodini within the subfamily Nitidulinae.
Nitidula
Nitidula is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae, first described by Fabricius in 1775. The genus contains approximately 20-23 described species, though estimates vary among sources. Several species are associated with carrion and decaying organic matter, with some species such as N. carnaria and N. flavomaculata being utilized in forensic investigations due to their predictable colonization of mammalian corpses during later stages of decay. Other species breed in carrion or are found in association with fermenting plant materials.
Prometopinae
Prometopinae is a subfamily of sap-feeding beetles within the family Nitidulidae. It comprises approximately eight genera, with the genus Prometopia being the sole North American representative. Members are associated with fermenting plant materials and sap flows.