Family: Discolomatidae

[= Notiophygidae]

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota > Metapterygota > Neoptera > Eumetabola > Holometabola > Coleoptera (beetles) > Polyphaga > Superfamily: Cucujoidea

Small beetles (2-8mm), usually oval and convex. Usually covered in short, stiff flat-lying hairs that form various patterns. Antennae end in a distinct club. They tend to be more active in wet weather and congregate under stones, grasses and leaf litter. They feed on bracket fungi and lichens.

Notiophygus sp. [image by M. Picker & C. Griffiths ©, from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, used with permission].

 Page by Margie Cochrane