Cleroidea
Encyclopedia
Cleroidea is a small superfamily
of beetle
s. Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible elytra, and typically hairy or scaly.
It contains about 10,000 species in the families:
The vast majority of species belong to the families Cleridae
and Melyridae
, followed by Trogossitidae
.
Taxonomic rank
In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...
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. Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible elytra, and typically hairy or scaly.
It contains about 10,000 species in the families:
- AcanthocnemidaeAcanthocnemidaeAcanthocnemidae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga. The single species of Acanthocnemidae, Acanthocnemus nigricans, is native to Australia....
Crowson 1964 - ChaetosomatidaeChaetosomatidaeChaetosomatidae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga.-Taxonomy:* Genus Chaetosoma Westwood, 1851** Chaetosoma scaritides Westwood, 1851* Genus Chaetosomodes Broun, 1921** Chaetosomodes halli Broun, 1921...
Crowson 1952 - CleridaeCleridaeCleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The Cleridae family has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences....
Latreille 1802 (checkered beetles) - MelyridaeMelyridaeMelyridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. The family Melyridae contains 520 species in 58 genera in North America. Most are elongate-oval, soft-bodied beetles 10 mm long or less. Many are brightly colored with brown or red and black...
Leach 1815 (soft-winged flower beetles) (includes Malachiidae and Dasytidae) - PhloiophilidaePhloiophilidaePhloiophilidae is a very small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga. It contains the single genus Phloiophilus with the single species Phloiophilus edwardsi....
Kiesenwetter 1863 - PhycosecidaePhycosecidaePhycosecidae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga. The species are small, about 1.5–3.5 mm in length. It contains the single genus Phycosecis with the following species:* Phycosecis algarum Pascoe, 1875...
Crowson 1952 - PrionoceridaePrionoceridaePrionoceridae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga....
Lacordaire 1857 - TrogossitidaeTrogossitidaeTrogossitidae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga. Trogossitidae consists of about 600 species. 59 species are found in America about 36in Australia....
Latreille 1802 (bark-gnawing beetles)
The vast majority of species belong to the families Cleridae
Cleridae
Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The Cleridae family has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences....
and Melyridae
Melyridae
Melyridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. The family Melyridae contains 520 species in 58 genera in North America. Most are elongate-oval, soft-bodied beetles 10 mm long or less. Many are brightly colored with brown or red and black...
, followed by Trogossitidae
Trogossitidae
Trogossitidae is a small family of beetles, in the suborder Polyphaga. Trogossitidae consists of about 600 species. 59 species are found in America about 36in Australia....
.
External links
- Cleroidea from the Tree of Life
- Checkered Beetle Enoclerus quadriguttatus Diagnostic photos and information.