Family Cerophytidae - Rare Click Beetles

Cerophytidae Latreille 1834

2 spp. in a single genus in our area(1), ~20 spp. in 3 genera total(2)

Antennae strongly serrate to pectinate, body short, head deflexed with protruding frons, and trochanters long. Unlike other elateroids, it shares with many beetle families, such as those in Cucujoidea and Tenebrionoidea, the metacoxae lacking a distinct posterior face, the metatrochanter is often inserted on the ventral surface or on a small medial projection of the coxa, never received in coxal excavation, resting ventrad of metacoxa in retracted position, and the ventral surface of the metacoxa more or less continuous with first ventrite.

Americas and Europe; in our area, e. US and the Pacific (OR-CA)(1)

lowland and mid-elevation forests; associated with deciduous trees, sometimes found in leaf litter or under ground debris(1)

apparently feed on laminated rotten xylem(1)

adults jump like click beetles; usually netted in flight of taken by traps; come to lights(1)