Fire-coloured beetle explained

Fire-coloured beetles is the common name for members of the tenebrionoid family Pyrochroidae.^[1] The family is found worldwide, and is most diverse at temperate latitudes. Adults measure 2mm20mm; larvae reach 35mm. Larvae of Pyrochroinae are found associated with the bark of dead trees. They are probably mostly fungivorous, although they may become cannibalistic if too crowded.^[2]

This family contains some 150 species in 30 genera. The males of many species in the subfamily Pyrochroinae have comb- or antler-like antennae. This family also now includes most former members of the defunct family Pedilidae.thumb|280px|Pyrochroa serraticornis

Genera

These 21 genera belong to the family Pyrochroidae:

• Agnathus Germar, 1818

^g

• Anisotria Young, 1984

^b

• Cononotus Leconte, 1851

^b

• Dendroides Latreille, 1810

^{i c g b}

• Exocalopus Broun, 1893

^g

• Frontodendroidopsis Young, 2004

^g

• Hemidendroides Ferrari, 1869

^g

• Lithomacratria Wickham, 1914

^g

• Malagaethes Pollock, 1995

^g

• Neopyrochroa Blair, 1914

^{g b}

• Palaeopyrochroa Abdullah, 1965

^g

• Pedilus Fischer von Waldheim, 1820

^{i c g b}

• Pogonoceromorphus Pic, 1921

^g

• Pseudodendroides Blair, 1914

^g

• Pseudopyrochroa Pic, 1906

^g

• Pyrochroa Müller, 1764

^g

• Ranomafana Pollock, 1995

^g

• Schizotus Newman, 1838

^{g b}

• Techmessodes Broun, 1893

^g

• Tydessa Peacock, 1982

^gData sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net

Behaviour

Fire-coloured beetles are not considered harmful to humans, as they do not bite, sting, or secrete toxic chemicals. However, more research on these insects is needed to fully understand their behaviour and qualities.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fire-colored beetles . iNaturalist . 10 August 2021.
2. Young, Daniel K. and Pollock, Darren A.. "11.24. Pyrochroidae Latreille, 1807". Volume 2 Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim), edited by Willy Kükenthal, Richard A.B. Leschen, Rolf G. Beutel and John F. Lawrence, Berlin, New York: De Gruyter, 2011, pp. 715-721.
3. Web site: Newton . Blake . Fire-colored beetles . UKY . University of Kentucky Entomology . 10 August 2021.