Family Oedemeridae - False Blister Beetles

Pollen Feeding Beetles(1)

revised by Arnett (1951)(2)

Oedemeridae Latreille 1810

3 subfamilies, with ~90 spp. in 18 genera in our area, ~1500 spp. in 115 genera worldwide(4) [500/100 per(5)]; 13 spp. in Canada(6)

Overview of our fauna

Family Oedemeridae

Subfamily Calopodinae Calopus · Sparedrus

Subfamily Oedemerinae

Subfamily Polypriinae Polypria

5-20 mm

Antennae with 11 long filiform, serrate or clavate antennomeres. Tarsal formula 5-5-4. 5-6, 2 connate ventrites. Elongate, pubescent, often brightly colored. Head not abruptly constricted posteriorly. Prothorax without margins, expanded anteriorly, then narrowed, sides rounded.

Key to Florida spp.(1)

widely dist.

Most abundant along the coast and in moist wooded habitats. Adults of some species are nectar and pollen feeders and often found on flowers. They are also found resting on foliage or in moist, rotten logs. Larvae develop in moist, decaying logs, stumps, and roots of hardwoods and conifers, including wharf pilings and driftwood.(7)

Adults take pollen, typically on early spring flowers

some produce toxic defensive chemicals

Oedemeridae of Texas (Quinn 2016)