Cerylonidae

Cerylonidae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Cerylon fagi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
Family: Cerylonidae
Billberg, 1820
Subfamilies
Synonyms
  • Aculagnathidae Oke, 1932
  • Dolosidae
  • 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.