Bostrichidae


The Bostrichidae are a family of beetles with more than 700 described species. They are commonly called auger beetles, false powderpost beetles, or horned powderpost beetles.

Anatomy

The head of most auger beetles cannot be seen from above, as it is downwardly directed and hidden by the thorax. Exceptions are the powderpost beetles, and members of the subfamily Psoinae. Bostrychoplites cornutus has large, distinctive thoracic horns, and is found in parts of Africa and Arabia; it is often imported to Europe as larvae in African wooden bowls .

Fossils

The fossil record of the family extends to the Cretaceous, with the oldest records being from the Cenomanian aged Charentese and Burmese ambers, belonging to the extant genus Stephanopachys and the extant subfamilies Dinoderinae and Polycaoninae.

Selected species

This list is incomplete:Amphicerus cornutus Apate terebrans Lichenophanes bicornis Prostephanus truncatus Xylobiops basilaris
;Species found in AustraliaDinoderus minutus Lyctus brunneus Lyctus discedens BlackburnLyctus parallelocollis BlackburnMesoxylion collaris Mesoxylion cylindricus Minthea rugicollis Rhyzopertha dominica - lesser grain borerSinoxylon anale Xylion cylindricus MacleayXylobosca bispinosa Xylodeleis obsipa GermarXylopsocus gibbicollis Xylothrips religiosus Xylotillus lindi
Species found in New ZealandEuderia squamosa Broun, 1880Dinoderus minutus Rhyzopertha sp.Lyctus brunneus
;Species found in the United KingdomBostrichus capucinusBostrychoplites cornutus Lyctus cavicollisLyctus linearis Lyctus planicollisLyctus sinensisStephanopachys substriatusTrogoxylon parallelopipedum
;Fossil species