Elateroidea
Encyclopedia
Elateroidea is a large superfamily
of beetle
s. It contains the familiar click beetle
s, fireflies
, and soldier beetle
s, and their relatives.
Certain clusters of families within the superfamily are more strongly related to one another; for example, the Elateridae has close ties to Anischiidae, Cerophytidae
, Eucnemidae, and Throscidae, and some of these beetles can also "click".
Likewise, the Lampyridae are very closely related to Drilidae, Omalisidae
, Phengodidae
(which includes Telegeusidae), and the doubtfully distinct Rhagophthalmidae
; members of these families are also bioluminescent, at least as larvae. This group of families also includes many taxa whose females are larviform, though this is also known from a few other families in the superfamily.
The validity and relationships of some families, such as Podabrocephalidae, Rhagophthalmidae
and Rhinorhipidae
, are not fully resolved.
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. It contains the familiar click beetle
Click beetle
The family Elateridae is commonly called click beetles , elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles or "skipjacks". They are a cosmopolitan beetle family characterized by the unusual click mechanism they possess...
s, fireflies
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
, and soldier beetle
Soldier beetle
The soldier beetles, Cantharidae, are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles, related to the Lampyridae or firefly family, but being unable to produce light. They are cosmopolitan in distribution. One common British species is bright red, reminding people of the red coats of soldiers, hence...
s, and their relatives.
Certain clusters of families within the superfamily are more strongly related to one another; for example, the Elateridae has close ties to Anischiidae, Cerophytidae
Cerophytidae
Cerophytidae is a family of insects known as the rare click beetles. It contains 22 species in four genera, primarily distributed in the New World:* Genus Aphytocerus Zherikhin, 1977** Aphytocerus communis Zherikhin, 1977...
, Eucnemidae, and Throscidae, and some of these beetles can also "click".
Likewise, the Lampyridae are very closely related to Drilidae, Omalisidae
Omalisidae
Omalisidae is a family of beetles, in the large suborder Polyphaga.It contains twelve species in two genera:* Genus Omalisus Geoffrey, 1762** Omalisus flavangulus ** Omalisus fontisbellaquaei Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785...
, Phengodidae
Phengodidae
The beetle family Phengodidae is known also as glowworm beetles, whose larvae are known as glowworms. The females and larvae have bioluminescent organs. They occur throughout the New World from extreme southern Canada to Chile...
(which includes Telegeusidae), and the doubtfully distinct Rhagophthalmidae
Rhagophthalmidae
Rhagophthalmidae is a family of beetles within the larger Elateroidea group that include click-beetles. Members of this beetle family have bioluminescent organs on the larvae and are closely related to the Phengodidae and Lampyridae , and were often included in one of these families as a...
; members of these families are also bioluminescent, at least as larvae. This group of families also includes many taxa whose females are larviform, though this is also known from a few other families in the superfamily.
The validity and relationships of some families, such as Podabrocephalidae, Rhagophthalmidae
Rhagophthalmidae
Rhagophthalmidae is a family of beetles within the larger Elateroidea group that include click-beetles. Members of this beetle family have bioluminescent organs on the larvae and are closely related to the Phengodidae and Lampyridae , and were often included in one of these families as a...
and Rhinorhipidae
Rhinorhipidae
Rhinorhipidae is a family of beetles, in the large suborder Polyphaga. It contains the single genus Rhinorhipus with a single species Rhinorhipus tamborinensis...
, are not fully resolved.
Families
- Anischiidae
- Artematopodidae Lacordaire, 1857 – soft-bodied plant beetles (= Eurypogonidae)
- BrachypsectridaeBrachypsectridaeBrachypsectridae is a family of beetles commonly known as the Texas beetles. There is only one genus, Brachypsectra. The type species, Brachypsectra fulva , occurs in North America. There are three other species which occur in southern India, Singapore and northwestern Australia...
Leconte & Horn, 1883 – Texas beetles - Cantharidae – soldier beetles
- CerophytidaeCerophytidaeCerophytidae is a family of insects known as the rare click beetles. It contains 22 species in four genera, primarily distributed in the New World:* Genus Aphytocerus Zherikhin, 1977** Aphytocerus communis Zherikhin, 1977...
– rare click beetles - Drilidae Blanchard, 1845
- Elateridae – click beetles (including Ampedidae, Dicronychidae, Lissomidae, Prosternidae, Protelateridae, Pyrophoridae, Synaptidae)
- Eucnemidae Eschscholtz, 1829 – false click beetles (including Perothopidae)
- Lampyridae – firefly beetles
- LycidaeLycidaeLycidae is a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called net-winged beetles.Beetles of this family are elongated and usually found on flowers or stems. The adults of some species are nectarivores while some may have short-lived adult lives during which they may not...
– net-winged beetles - OmalisidaeOmalisidaeOmalisidae is a family of beetles, in the large suborder Polyphaga.It contains twelve species in two genera:* Genus Omalisus Geoffrey, 1762** Omalisus flavangulus ** Omalisus fontisbellaquaei Geoffroy in Fourcroy, 1785...
Lacordaire, 1857 (= Homalisidae, Omalysidae) - Omethidae LeConte, 1861 – false firefly beetles
- PhengodidaePhengodidaeThe beetle family Phengodidae is known also as glowworm beetles, whose larvae are known as glowworms. The females and larvae have bioluminescent organs. They occur throughout the New World from extreme southern Canada to Chile...
LeConte 1861 – glowworm beetles (including Telegeusidae) - PlastoceridaePlastoceridaePlastoceridae is a family of beetles, in the large suborder Polyphaga. It contains the single genus Plastocerus with a single species Plastocerus angulosus....
Crowson, 1972 - Podabrocephalidae Pic, 1930
- RhagophthalmidaeRhagophthalmidaeRhagophthalmidae is a family of beetles within the larger Elateroidea group that include click-beetles. Members of this beetle family have bioluminescent organs on the larvae and are closely related to the Phengodidae and Lampyridae , and were often included in one of these families as a...
(sometimes in Phengodidae, might belong in Lampyridae) - RhinorhipidaeRhinorhipidaeRhinorhipidae is a family of beetles, in the large suborder Polyphaga. It contains the single genus Rhinorhipus with a single species Rhinorhipus tamborinensis...
Lawrence, 1988 - Throscidae Laporte, 1840 – false metallic wood-boring beetles (= Balgidae, Trixagidae)