Cucujidae are conspicuously dorsoventrally flattened beetles, living mainly under the bark of trees. The body is conspicuously flattened and segmented, resembling a small bark scale. This morphological adaptation is no accident – their entire life cycle takes place in the narrow spaces between the bark and the wood of dying or recently dead trees. The family comprises approximately 60 species, divided into five genera, and is distributed worldwide with the exception of Africa, Antarctica and most oceanic islands. In forest ecosystems, the longhorn beetles play an important role as predators: they hunt the larvae and pupae of other bark-dwelling insects, including species that spread fungal diseases in trees, and are thus regarded as beneficial contributors to forest health. The most prominent representative is Cucujus cinnaberinus – a protected species that has become a symbol of saproxylic insect conservation across Europe and whose presence forms the basis for the designation of Natura 2000 sites.

Number of Species:

Family Card

Cucujus cinnaberinus

 

Cucujus haematodes

 

Pediacus depressus

 

Pediacus dermestoides