MELYRIDAE

Author: John F. Lawrence.

Classification

Suborder Polyphaga, Series Cucujiformia, Superfamily Cleroidea.

Description

Antenae with 11 or rarely 10 segments, filiform or serrate or pectinate or flabellate or clavate. Antennal insertions exposed. Visible portion of procoxa projecting bellow prosternum with the trochantin at least partly exposed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae contigous, with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 5-5-5 or 4-5-5 in males of some species. Number of ventrites 6 without ventrites connate. Body length 1-10 mm. Elongate, soft-bodied, pubescent, sometimes brightly colored, often with long, stiff setae. Tarsal claws often toothed and/or with appendage beneath each claw.

Quick identification

Melyridae are usually soft-bodied, sometimes colorful, and usually setose, often with stiff, dark bristles, the antennae never have a distinct club and the tarsal claws are usually either toothed or provided with membranous appendages.

Genera occurring in Costa Rica

Melyrinae: Melyrodes.
Rhadalinae: Eucymbolus, Rhadalus.
Dasytinae: Amecocerus, Trichochrous...
Malachiinae: Anthocomus, Attalus, Collops, Dromanthus, Ebaeus, Malachius, Pseudattalus....

© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Melyrinae	Champion, 1913 Rhadalinae	© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Dasytinae

© CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Malachiinae