Cryptophilus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about nine described species in Cryptophilus.[1][2][3]
Cryptophilus adults are brown and slightly hairy beetles, 1.6-2.3 mm long and with 3-segmented antennal clubs.[4] They resemble beetles of the unrelated family Cryptophagidae.[4][5] Unlike cryptophagids, Cryptophilus have procoxal sockets that are closed.[5]
The larvae are long, hairy and have a granulate or tuberculate dorsum. They can be mistaken for larvae of Monotoma (Monotomidae) or Epuraea (Nitidulidae), which occur in similar habitats. Cryptophilus larvae can be recognised by their mandibles, which lack a sub-apical accessory tooth and have a large, subtriangular prostheca.[5]
Cryptophilus occur in decaying plant matter (e.g. leaf litter, wood debris, compost heaps, grass cuttings, straw) and also in stored food products (e.g. cereals, beans, flour, dried fruit, nuts).[4][5][6] Adults and larvae are mycophages that feed on mould.[4][6]
These nine species belong to the genus Cryptophilus:
Cryptophilus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about nine described species in Cryptophilus.
