Cedar Creek
Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order COLEOPTERA

Family TENEBRIONIDAE

(Darkling Beetles)

(Table of Species)

This large family (1008 NA spp; 37 MN spp) is most diverse in the arid southwest US, where they are said to replace the Carabidae ecologically.  Most of the 12-odd Darkling Beetles collected at Cedar Creek occur under bark where they feed on fungi.  They are discussed by subfamily.

TENEBRIONINAE
An exception is Eleodes tricostatus, a common and ubiquitous scavenger? of dry weedy fields. Blapstinus sp has been collected sparingly in fields as well.

BOLITOPHAGINI
Bolitotherus cornutus has prominent horns and occurs on birch bracket fungi in woodland.

DIAPERINI
Diaperis maculata is a black-and-red species associated with sulfur shelf fungus on various hardwoods.

TENEBRIONINI
Merinus laevis, Xylopinussaperdioides, Iphthimus opacus, Alobates pennsylvanicus, and Upis ceramboides are elongate black species found under bark. Tenebrio molitor and Neatus tenebrioides have also been collected.

jhaar@lter.umn.edu Last updated May, 2000