Reticulated beetle
Encyclopedia
Cupedidae is a small family
of beetle
s, notable for the square pattern of "windows" on their elytra (hard forewings), which gives the family their common name of reticulated beetles.
The family consists of about 30 species in nine genera, with a Pangean (worldwide) distribution. Many more extinct species are known, dating as far back as the Triassic
.
These beetles tend to be elongate with a parallel-sided body, ranging in size from 5 to 25 mm, with colors brownish, blackish, or gray. The larvae are wood-borers, typically living in fungus
-infested wood, and sometimes found in wood construction.
Males of Priacma serrata (western North America
) are notable for being strongly attracted to common household bleach.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s, notable for the square pattern of "windows" on their elytra (hard forewings), which gives the family their common name of reticulated beetles.
The family consists of about 30 species in nine genera, with a Pangean (worldwide) distribution. Many more extinct species are known, dating as far back as the Triassic
Triassic
The Triassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about 250 to 200 Mya . As the first period of the Mesozoic Era, the Triassic follows the Permian and is followed by the Jurassic. Both the start and end of the Triassic are marked by major extinction events...
.
These beetles tend to be elongate with a parallel-sided body, ranging in size from 5 to 25 mm, with colors brownish, blackish, or gray. The larvae are wood-borers, typically living in fungus
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
-infested wood, and sometimes found in wood construction.
Males of Priacma serrata (western North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
) are notable for being strongly attracted to common household bleach.