Zopheridae

COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > TENEBRIONOIDEA > Zopheridae

A diverse family of fungus feeding or predatory robust bark beetles represented in Britain by around a dozen species, most of which are seldom recorded. The most widespread member of the family is the attractive black-and-red marked Bitoma crenata which has a deeply grooved pronotum and raised elytral lines.

The species featured below is Pycnomerus fuliginous, which apparently is an accidently introduced Australian native species that was first recorded in Britain around sixty years ago, initially restricted to the south, but now established and slowly extending its range northwards. It's an entirely dark reddish-grey to blackish beetle, around 4mm long, with an elongate body. Very little is known about the biology of the species and despite the fact that it has now been officially recorded at various scattered locations as far north as Manchester, sightings are still relatively few and far between.

New family added, April 26 (v.1)