Laemophloeus is a genus of
beetles; it is the type genus of the family
Laemophloeidae. The genus has been almost completely reviewed in modern times.[1][2][3][4][5]
Following Lefkovitch,[1] by recognizing only those species congeneric with the type species, Laemophloeus monilis (Fabricius), as valid members of the genus, this reduces the size of the genus from more than a hundred species to only 28, as follows (with their distribution):
Those species still listed as Laemophloeus in published or online lists (e.g. Joel Hallan's Biology Catalog)[6] should be listed as Laemophloeus (sens. lat.).
Like most members of the Laemophloeidae, Laemophloeus species are found under the bark of dead trees, where they appear to feed primarily on fungi, especially
ascomycetes.[7] They range in size from moderate to large for the family (2–4 mm in length). The members of the genus occur throughout the
Palaearctic and
Nearctic realms, but extend south into the tropics in the
New World, where five other closely related genera are found.[5]
References
^
abLefkovitch, Leonard P. (August 1959). "A revision of the European Laemophloeinae (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)". Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 111 (5): 95–118.
doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2311.1959.tb02278.x.
^Iablokoff-Khnzorian, Stepan M. (1977). "Beetles of the tribe Laemophloeini (Coleoptera, Cucujidae) in the fauna of the USSR". Entomologicheskoye Obozreniye. 56: 610–624.
^Lawrence, John F. (December 1977). "Coleoptera associated with an Hypoxylon species (Ascomycetes: Xylariaceae) on oak". The Coleopterists Bulletin. 31 (4): 309–312.
JSTOR3999883.