Nosodendridae are a mainly tropical group

called diseased-tree beetles, a translation of their

scientific name. Adults can often be found on slime

fluxes, the flows of fermenting sap on the trunks

of living trees, which support a rich community of

fungi and insects. It is not clear if they are feeding

were extracted using funnels from leaf litter

or other organic detritus, or from bat guano

in caves, and many are reported from

islands, from Mauritius to Madeira,

Christmas Island to the Caribbean. It is

probable that they are usually overlooked,

and only detected by more specialized and

detailed methods of collecting, which are

more likely to be used in small, species-poor

environments such as islands

left | Derodontus maculatus

(Derodontidae) This photograph,

showing the “toothed neck,” was taken

in Maryland, USA, in December, and

reveals the beetle’s winter activity.

below | Nosodendron fasciculare

(Nosodendridae) A rare species of

ancient, good-quality forest habitats

in Europe, this particular specimen

was photographed in Austria.

on the sap itself or perhaps on other inhabitants.

There is still much to be discovered about these

uncommon beetles.

Jacobsoniidae, named after Russian entomologist

Georgiy Jacobson (1871–1926), is an obscure family

of tiny beetles, many less than 1 mm long.