''Metaxina'' is the only genus in the

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 ...

family Metaxinidae. Its only species is ''Metaxina ornata''. It endemic to the South island of New Zealand, where it is associated with

sooty mold Sooty mold (also spelled sooty mould) is a collective term for different Ascomycete fungi, which includes many genera, commonly ''Cladosporium'' and ''Alternaria''. It grows on plants and their fruit, but also environmental objects, like fences, ...

growing on ''

Nothofagus ''Nothofagus'', also known as the southern beeches, is a genus of 43 species of trees and shrubs native to the Southern Hemisphere, found across southern South America (Chile, Argentina) and east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Guin ...

'' trees. Both the larvae and adults are likely predaceous, feeding on insects and other arthropods. It is considered to be a member of the superfamily

Cleroidea Cleroidea is a small Taxonomic rank, superfamily of beetles containing over 10,000 species. Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly soft, flexible elytra, and typically hairy or scaly. Description Cleroidea is ...

. Genetic studies have suggested that ''Metaxina'' should be considered a member of

Chaetosomatidae Chaetosomatidae is a small family of beetles, in the superfamily Cleroidea Cleroidea is a small Taxonomic rank, superfamily of beetles containing over 10,000 species. Most of the members of the group are somewhat slender, often with fairly so ...

, rather than constituting its own family.

References

Cleroidea Cleroidea genera Monotypic beetle genera {{Cleroidea-stub