Genus Enoclerus

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Internet References · Works Cited

Beautiful and beetlecidal - Enoclerus muttkowskii

Marin Coastal Trail critter - Enoclerus cupressi

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Cleroidea (Bark-gnawing, Checkered and Soft-winged Flower Beetles)

Family Cleridae (Checkered Beetles)

Genus Enoclerus

Numbers

The most speciose genus in our area, with 36 species north of Mexico(1)

Size

3-24 mm (2)

Identification

Brightly colored beetles with hairy bodies (Peterson(3) describes it as "erect pubescence"), large heads.

Range

Across the continent.

Habitat

Woodland; found under bark, in galls, around woody plants, rarely on foliage (2).

Food

Both larvae and adults are generally predacious. Some adults feed on pollen, some species are attracted to carrion and "stored animal products"(2).

Remarks

At first glance might be mistaken for velvet ants.

Internet References

Enoclerus of North and Central America by Jacques Rifkind, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, clerid@aol.com. A very helpful source, with species photos arranged alphabetically (can be viewed as a slideshow).

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

2.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

3.	A Field Guide to Insects By Richard E. White, Donald J. Borror, Roger Tory Peterson

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Phillip Harpootlian, McClarinJ, v belov
Last updated 3 September, 2009 - 8:55am

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