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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Archostemata » Reticulated Beetles (Cupedidae)

Family Cupedidae - Reticulated Beetles

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Reticulated Beetle - Cupes capitatus Please identify - Tenomerga cinerea Reticulated Beetle - Tenomerga cinerea Reticulated Beetle - Tenomerga cinerea Beetle - Priacma serrata Priacma serrata? - Priacma serrata Colfax-J.2021.08 - Prolixocupes lobiceps Cupes capitatus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Archostemata
Family Cupedidae (Reticulated Beetles)
Explanation of Names
Cupedidae Laporte 1836
Numbers
37 species in 8 genera worldwide; 4 genera, with one species each, in our area:(1)(2)
Cupes capitatus e. NA
Tenomerga cinereus e. NA
Priacma serrata w. NA
Prolixocupes lobiceps so. AZ, CA

Additionally, Tenomerga mucidae is known from Hawaii and Paracupes mexicanus is known from southern Mexico. (2)
Identification
These beetles have a flattened parallel-sided body, large closely placed elytral punctures, and broad scale-like setae.

Key to genera/species in American Beetles (pg. 20). (1)
Range
Worldwide.
Habitat
Larvae are known to live in fungal-infested wood. Adults may found associated with the larval habitat, and they are sometimes attracted to lights. Adults may also be collected in traps designed to catch wood-boring insects (e.g. Lindgren funnel traps).
Food
The larvae devour the eggshells populating their intestines with the same microbes as their mothers.(3)
Remarks
Extinct species outnumber extant species worldwide.(4)
Adults will come to lights.(4)
Male beetles are enticed by the odor of laundry bleach. Females must emit a pheromone that smells like this.(4)
Print References
Atkins M.D. (1958) On the phylogeny and biogeography of the family Cupedidae (Coleoptera). The Canadian Entomologist 90: 532-537.
Atkins M.D. (1963) The Cupedidae of the world. The Canadian Entomologist 95: 140-162.
Barber G.W., Ellis W.O. (1920) The Cupedidae of North America north of Mexico. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 28: 197-208.
Internet References
Family profile (Hörnschemeyer 2011)
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia
Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). 2000. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
2.A new reticulated beetle (Coleoptera: Cupedidae) from Mexico with a catalogue of Cupedidae species of the world
Geovanni M. Rodríguez-Mirón & Sarah López-Pérez. 2019. Zootaxa 4567 (1): 147–160.
3.The World Beneath our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil
James B. Nardi. 2003. Oxford University Press.
4.Hidden Company that Trees Keep: Life from Treetops to Root Tips
James B. Nardi. 2023. Princeton University Press.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:32pm
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, Bbarnd, v belov, Marci Hess
Last updated 17 November, 2023 - 2:48pm

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