Histeridae

Histeridae Temporal range: Early Cretaceous–Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Central European clown beetles with larvae and anatomical details
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Infraorder:	Staphyliniformia
Superfamily:	Histeroidea
Family:	Histeridae Gyllenhal, 1808
Subfamilies[1]
Abraeinae MacLeay, 1819 Chlamydopsinae Bickhardt, 1914 Dendrophilinae Reitter, 1909 Haeteriinae Marseul, 1857 Histerinae Gyllenhal, 1808 Niponiinae Fowler, 1912 Onthophilinae MacLeay, 1819 Saprininae Blanchard, 1845 Tribalinae Bickhardt, 1914 Trypanaeinae Marseul, 1857 Trypeticinae Bickhardt, 1913
Diversity
at least 410 genera

Histeridae is a family of beetles commonly known as clown beetles or hister beetles. This very diverse group of beetles contains 3,900 species found worldwide. They can be easily identified by their shortened elytra that leaves two of the seven tergites exposed, and their geniculate (elbowed) antennae with clubbed ends. These predatory feeders are most active at night and will fake death if they feel threatened. This family of beetles will occupy almost any kind of niche throughout the world. Hister beetles have proved useful during forensic investigations to help in time of death estimation. Also, certain species are used in the control of livestock pests that infest dung and to control houseflies. Because they are predacious and will even eat other hister beetles, they must be isolated when collected.