
Cerylonidae is a family of beetles in the superfamily
Coccinelloidea
Coccinelloidea is a superfamily of beetles in the order Coleoptera, formerly included in the superfamily Cucujoidea. There are more than 10,000 species in Coccinelloidea, including more than 6000 in the lady beetle family Coccinellidae.
Morphol ...
.
[ They are small to tiny (), 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
Compost is a mixture of ingredients used as plant fertilizer and to improve soil's physical, chemical, and biological properties. It is commonly prepared by Decomposition, decomposing plant and food waste, recycling organic materials, and man ...
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.
Systematics
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
Coccinelloidea is a superfamily of beetles in the order Coleoptera, formerly included in the superfamily Cucujoidea. There are more than 10,000 species in Coccinelloidea, including more than 6000 in the lady beetle family Coccinellidae.
Morphol ...
. Several of these families ( Alexiidae, Euxestidae, Murmidiidae) used to be included within Cerylonidae.
Cerylonidae in their current circumscription comprise the subfamilies
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zool ...
Ceryloninae, Loeblioryloninae and Ostomopsinae in the sense of Ślipiński (1990), with around 344 species in 38 genera:
* '' Acautomus'' Heinze, 1944 (2 spp.) s g
* '' Afrorylon'' Slipinski, 1980 (12 spp.) s g
* '' Angolon'' Dajoz, 1977 (2 spp.) s g
* '' Australiorylon'' Slipinski, 1988 (4 spp.) s g
* '' Axiocerylon'' Grouvelle, 1918 (31 spp.) s g
* '' Belingaia'' Dajoz, 1974 (1 sp.) s
* '' Cautomus'' Sharp, 1885 (22 spp.) s g
* '' Cerylon'' Latreille, 1802 (12 spp.) s i c g b
* '' Clavicerylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Coccilon'' Hinton, 1942 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Ectomicrus'' Sharp, 1885 (4 spp.) s g
* '' Ellipsorylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Glomerylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Glyptolopus'' Erichson, 1845 (5 spp.) s g
* '' Gyreleon'' Hinton, 1942 (4 spp.) s g
* '' Ivieus'' Slipinski, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Johnlawrencella'' Ślipiński, 2016 (1 sp.) g
* '' Lapethinus'' Ślipiński, 1984 (3 spp.) s g
* '' Loebliorylon'' Slipinski, 1990 (1 sp.) s i c g
* '' Mychocerus'' Erichson, 1845 (45 spp.) s i c g b
* '' Neolapethus'' Sen Gupta & Pal, 1985 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Nkolbissonia'' Dajoz, 1978 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Orientrylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (2 spp.) s g
* '' Oroussetia'' Dajoz, 1981 (6 spp.) s g
* '' Ostomopsis'' Scott, 1922 (1 sp.) s i c g b
* '' Pachylon'' Sharp, 1885 (2 spp.) s g
* '' Pakalukia'' Ślipiński, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Paracerylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (6 spp.) s g
* '' Pathelus'' Dajoz, 1974 (8 spp.) s g
* '' Philothermopsis'' Heinze, 1944 (37 spp.) s g
* '' Philothermus'' Aubé, 1843 (95 spp.) s i c g b
* '' Ploeosoma'' Wollaston, 1854 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Pseudocerylon'' Grouvelle, 1897 (7 spp.) s g
* '' Pseudolapethus'' Ślipiński, 1984 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Rostrorylon'' Ślipiński, 1990 (1 sp.) s g
* '' Spinocerylon'' Ślipiński, 1988 (3 spp.) s g
* '' Suakokoia'' Sen Gupta & Crowson, 1973 (7 spp.) s g
* '' Thyroderus'' Sharp, 1885 (9 spp.) s g
Data sources: s = Ślipiński (1990),[ i = ITIS,][ c = Catalogue of Life,][ g = GBIF,][ b = Bugguide.net][ ]
Extinct genera
* '' Protostomopsis'' Bukejs et al. 2021; Baltic amber
Baltic amber or succinite is amber from the Baltic region, home of its largest known deposits. It was produced sometime during the Eocene epoch, but exactly when is controversial. It has been estimated that this forested region provided the re ...
, Eocene
The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...
References
External links
Cerylonidae
Tree of Life
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{{Authority control
Coccinelloidea
Polyphaga families