forest insects. Some, such as the tribe Bolitophagini,

are primarily fungus beetles, inhabiting long-lived

bracket fungi growing on trees, but the vast

majority of species are associated as larvae with

dead wood. The tribe Amarygmini, including the

genus Amarygmus, one of the largest genera in the

beetles, comprises over 1,800 described species of

mainly brightly colored, metallic, semispherical

above | Byrsax A male

of the horned fungus beetle

from Malaysia, a member

of the tribe Bolitophagini.

right| Blaps mortisaga

Once commoner and even

an object of superstition,

nocturnal Cellar Beetles

are now rarely seen around

stables and old buildings.

insects, distributed in Old World tropical forests,

especially in Asia and Australasia.

Tenebrioninae adults have defensive scent

glands that produce a distinctive and persistent

odor when the beetle is threatened. This secretion

includes methyl or ethyl phenol, which has a strong

taste and can be painful if it comes into contact

with the eyes.