Cleroidea is a small
superfamily of
beetles containing over 10,000 species.[1] Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible
elytra, and typically hairy or scaly.[citation needed]
Description
Cleroidea is defined by the following features: adult and larva with
mandibular mola absent, larva with basal mandibular process (lacinia mobilis) present), and mala with a pedunculate
seta present.[2]
There is variation in the degree of sclerotisation within Cleroidea. Some are hard-bodied beetles with fully sclerotised
elytra that match the shape of the abdomen (
Trogossitidae,
Lophocateridae,
Peltidae). The melyrid lineage (a group including
Melyridae and other families) and the two small families
Phloiophilidae and
Acanthocnemidae are highly soft-bodied. The Cleridae are intermediately soft-bodied.[3]
Biology
Cleroids can be divided into three main groups based on what they feed on:[1]
Cleridae and most Trogossitinae (Trogossitidae) are
predatory and their adults are usually
diurnal.
The melyrid lineage are
pollen- or
nectar-feeders, and also have diurnal adults.
Much of the remaining Trogossitidae and many smaller families are
fungus-feeders. Their adults are more
cryptic and/or
nocturnal than the previous two groups, occurring under bark, in rotting wood or in fruiting bodies of fungi.
Other lifestyles also occur in the superfamily.
Phycosecidaescavenge dead animals on bare seashore, while Acanthocnemus nigricans (the sole species of Acanthocnemidae) is attracted to recently burnt
wood.[1]
^Leschen, Richard A. B. (2010-12-31), Kükenthal, Willy; Leschen, Richard A.B.; Beutel, Rolf G.; Lawrence, John F. (eds.),
"9. Cleroidea Latreille, 1802", Coleoptera, Beetles, Volume 2, Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim), DE GRUYTER, pp. 237–239,
doi:
10.1515/9783110911213.237,
ISBN978-3-11-019075-5, retrieved 2022-11-24