Biology:Cerylonidae

Short description: Family of beetles

Cerylonidae Temporal range: Eocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Cerylon fagi
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Superfamily:	Coccinelloidea
Family:	Cerylonidae Billberg, 1820
Subfamilies
Ceryloninae Loeblioryloninae Ostomopsinae
Synonyms
Oke, 1932 Dolosidae Aculagnathidae Pleosomidae Ploeosomidae

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.

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. Several of these families (Alexiidae, Euxestidae, Murmidiidae) used to be included within Cerylonidae.

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:

• 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, Eocene

External links

• Cerylonidae Tree of Life

Wikidata ☰ Q1040151 entry