''Laricobius'' is a genus of
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...
s in the family
Derodontidae
Derodontidae is a family of beetles, in its own superfamily, Derodontoidea, sometimes known as the tooth-necked fungus beetles. Beetles of this family are small, between 2 and 6 mm in length, typically with spiny margins on their pronotum ...
, the tooth-necked fungus beetles.
[''Laricobius''.]
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)
It is one of four genera in the family. While the other three feed on
fungi
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
, ''Laricobius'' species feed on
adelgids, tiny insects very similar to
aphid
Aphids are small sap-sucking insects in the Taxonomic rank, family Aphididae. Common names include greenfly and blackfly, although individuals within a species can vary widely in color. The group includes the fluffy white Eriosomatinae, woolly ...
s.
[Montgomery, M. E., et al. (2011)]
A new species of ''Laricobius'' (Coleoptera: Derodontidae) from Japan with phylogeny and a key for native and introduced congeners in North America.
''Annals of the Entomological Society of America'' 104(3) 389-401. Some adelgids are destructive forest pests, and ''Laricobius'' beetles have been employed as agents of
biological pest control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or ot ...
to prey on them and reduce their populations. An example is ''
Laricobius nigrinus'', which is released in forests to control the
hemlock woolly adelgid
''Adelges tsugae'', the hemlock woolly adelgid () or HWA, is an insect of the order Hemiptera (true bugs) native to East Asia. It feeds by sucking sap from hemlock and spruce trees ('' Tsuga'' spp.; '' Picea'' spp.). In its native range, HWA ...
(''Adelges tsugae'').
[Zilahi-Balogh, G. M. G., et al]
A predator case history: ''Laricobius nigrinus'', a derodontid beetle introduced against the hemlock woolly adelgid.
''In'': Second International Symposium on Biological Control of Arthropods, Davos, Switzerland. 12–16 September 2005. 651-64.
As of 2014, there are about 23 species in the genus. Species include:
[Háva, J. (2006)]
World catalogue of the family Derodontidae (Coleoptera).
''Pol Pismo Entomol'' 75 29-38. Updated 2014 Version.
*''
Laricobius baoxingensis''
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Laricobius bicolor''
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Laricobius caucasicus''
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Laricobius daliensis''
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Laricobius danielae''
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Laricobius erichsoni
''Laricobius erichsoni'' is a species of tooth-necked fungus beetle in the family Derodontidae
Derodontidae is a family of beetles, in its own superfamily, Derodontoidea, sometimes known as the tooth-necked fungus beetles. Beetles of this fa ...
''
*''
Laricobius incognitus''
*''
Laricobius jizu
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius kangdingensis''
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Laricobius kovalevi''
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Laricobius ludmilae''
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Laricobius laticollis
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius loebli
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius minutus
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius mirabilis
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius naganoensis
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius nigrinus''
*''
Laricobius osakensis
''Laricobius osakensis'' is a species of Derodontid beetle native to Japan. Described in 2011, it feeds exclusively on hemlock woolly adelgid (''Adelges tsugae''), an invasive insect species that is destroying huge numbers of hemlock trees in e ...
''
*''
Laricobius rubidus
''Laricobius rubidus'' is a species of tooth-necked fungus beetle in the family Derodontidae. It is found in North America. Studies are ongoing to determine the rate of hybridization between ''L. rubidus'', which feeds on pine bark adelgid, and i ...
''
*''
Laricobius sahlbergi
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius schawalleri
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius taiwanensis
''Laricobius'' is a genus of beetles in the family Derodontidae, the tooth-necked fungus beetles. ''
*''
Laricobius wittmeri''
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14940716
Derodontidae
Bostrichiformia genera