Cerylonidae are small to tiny (0.8–3 mm (0.031–0.118 in)), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical and subtropical. They are most common under the bark of dead trees, but can also occur in compost and other decaying plant material. Little is known specifically about their biology but they are thought to be either predators that feed on other small animals, or fungus-feeders.
The taxonomy is complex. The "Cerylonid Series" is a cluster of highly derived former Cucujoidea families considered by recent authorities to comprise a separate superfamily Coccinelloidea. Several of these families (Alexiidae, Euxestidae, Murmidiidae) used to be included within Cerylonidae.[1]
Cerylonidae in their current circumscription comprise the subfamilies Ceryloninae, Loeblioryloninae and Ostomopsinae in the sense of Ślipiński (1990), with around 344 species in 38 genera:[1][2]
Data sources: s = Ślipiński (1990),[2] i = ITIS,[4] c = Catalogue of Life,[5] g = GBIF,[6] b = Bugguide.net[7]
Cerylon figures 1-4 Cerylonidae are small to tiny (0.8–3 mm (0.031–0.118 in)), smooth, shiny, hairless beetles, only lightly punctured. There are about 450 species worldwide in 50 or so genera, mostly tropical and subtropical. They are most common under the bark of dead trees, but can also occur in compost and other decaying plant material. Little is known specifically about their biology but they are thought to be either predators that feed on other small animals, or fungus-feeders.
