182

SAP AND POLLEN BEETLES

NITIDULIDAE

N

itidulidae is a medium-sized family of about

4,500 species of generally small beetles,

many of which are pollinators and flower feeders,

or are associated with fermentation, such as tree

sap, or decaying fruit and vegetable matter. A few,

such as the genera Nitidula and Omosita, have moved

into decaying animal matter and are found on

carrion. Some species feed on the fruiting bodies

of fungi, particularly mushrooms.

family

Nitidulidae

known species

4,500

distribution

Worldwide

habitat

Grasslands, plains, forests

size

1–10 mm

diet

Larvae of some species develop in the buds

of flowers, while the adults are pollinators.

Others feed on fermenting vegetable matter,

and a few on decaying carrion

notes

The tiny (1 mm) spherical beetles of the

subfamily Cybocephalinae are often treated

as a different family from the Nitidulidae,

partly because their behavior is different.

They are predators of scale insects

(Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha), which

NITIDULIDAE—Sap and Pollen Beetles

While many species are ecologically important

as pollinators and recyclers, some have become

pests. The extremely common Pollen Beetle

Meligethes aeneus develops as a larva in the flower

buds of yellow-flowered plants of the cabbage

family, and is a pest of several related crops. The

flower-feeding adults are attracted toward anything

yellow, and may swarm in huge numbers on yellow

cars or yellow clothing. Some farmers try to control