The family Salpingidae comprises small to medium-sized beetles belonging to the superfamily Tenebrionoidea. Species in this group are found almost worldwide, but they are most diverse in the temperate zones of both the northern and southern hemispheres. These creatures inhabit predominantly forest ecosystems, where their life cycle is closely linked to wood and tree bark. Most species live beneath dead tree bark, in decaying wood or in wood-decaying fungi. A smaller proportion of species feed directly on fungi (particularly ascomycetes and hyphomycetes) or on decomposing organic matter. However, many species are predatory and actively hunt the larvae and adults of other insects, particularly bark beetles, thereby contributing to the natural regulation of their populations. Most species measure only a few millimetres and have an elongated, often dark-coloured body, which is sometimes slightly flattened. Another characteristic feature of the family is the conspicuously narrowed prothorax segment.

Number of Species:

Family Card

Aglenus brunneus

 

Colposis mutilatus

 

Lissodema cursor

 

Lissodema denticollis

 

Rabocerus foveolatus

 

Rabocerus gabrieli

 

Salpingus planirostris

 

Salpingus ruficollis

 

Sphaeriestes aeratus

 

Sphaeriestes bimaculatus

 

Sphaeriestes castaneus

 

Sphaeriestes stockmanni

 

Vincenzellus ruficollis