Tenebrionidae (plant/storage pests)

Tenebrionoidea • Coleoptera • Insects (plant pests) • pests-diseases-weeds

Vernacular names
• Deutsch:	Schwarzkäfer Schattenkäfer Dunkelkäfer
• English:	darkling beetles
• Español:	tenebriónidos
• Français:	ténébrionidés

Alphitobius diaperinus (click on image to enlarge it)
Author(s): Natasha Wright, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Source: IPM Images

Tenebrionidae (plant/storage pests) - (darkling beetles)

This is a large family of more than 20,000 species, often with dark colouration. The members are usually wood and ground living beetles. The group contains important storage pests.

The Tenebrionidae are highly variable in appearance, but have a number of common characters like the antennae which are usually 11-segmented and inserted under a lateral ridge of the frons. The larvae have a round body and resemble wireworms.

See also the hygenic/medical group of Tenebrionidae (nuisance pests).

The following genera and individual species are currently entered under Tenebrionidae (plant/storage pests):

• Alphitobius (genus)
• Alphitophagus bifasciatus
• Cynaeus angustus
• Mylabris (genus)

• Palorus (genus)
• Tenebrio (genus)
• Tribolium (genus)