Cryptophilus


Cryptophilus is a genus of pleasing fungus beetles in the family Erotylidae. There are about nine described species in Cryptophilus.

Identification

Cryptophilus adults are brown and slightly hairy beetles, 1.6-2.3 mm long and with 3-segmented antennal clubs. They resemble beetles of the unrelated family Cryptophagidae. Unlike cryptophagids, Cryptophilus have procoxal sockets that are closed.
The larvae are long, hairy and have a granulate or tuberculate dorsum. They can be mistaken for larvae of Monotoma or Epuraea, which occur in similar habitats. Cryptophilus larvae can be recognised by their mandibles, which lack a sub-apical accessory tooth and have a large, subtriangular prostheca.

Ecology

Cryptophilus occur in decaying plant matter and also in stored food products. Adults and larvae are mycophages that feed on mould.

Species

These species belong to the genus Cryptophilus:
as a junior synonym of Micrambe abietis per Esser 2016, & Esser 2017, contra "integer" sensu auct. as Cryptophilus propinquus or Cryptophilus angustus.