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Beetles of Zihuatanejo

ORDER COLEOPTERA

Camptodes Sap-feeding Beetles
Camptodes (Genus)

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Beetles (Order Coleoptera​​)

-​Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf, and Snout Beetles (Suborder Polyphaga)

-​Cucujiform Beetles (Infraorder Cucujiformia)

-Superfamily Cucujoidea

-​Sap-feeding Beetles (Family Nitidulidae)

-Subfamily Cillaeinae

-Genus Camptodes


Camptodes is a genus of sap-feeding beetles in the family Nitidulidae. Sap-feeding beetles are rather small drab beetles distinguished by a very pronounced club on the tip of the antenna. The majority of sap beetles feed on fungi, but as the name suggests others are attracted to fresh tree wounds and sap flows where they feed on yeats and other fungi. Some species will also feed on pollen and act as pollinators.

Diet

  • Larvae: Feed primarily on decaying plant material, fungi, rotting fruit, and sap-associated organic matter.

  • Adults: Feed on fermenting or overripe fruit, plant sap, nectar, pollen, fungi, and decaying vegetation.

  • Some species are associated with sap flows on injured or damaged trees.

Range

  • The genus Camptodes is distributed primarily in the Americas, with species occurring from the southern United States through Mexico, Central America, and South America.

  • Mexico has a diverse Camptodes fauna, including species occurring in Guerrero and other Pacific coastal regions.

  • Greatest diversity occurs in tropical and subtropical habitats.

Habitat

  • Inhabits tropical dry forests, tropical rainforests, woodland edges, orchards, gardens, agricultural areas, and disturbed habitats.

  • Adults are commonly found around sap flows, fermenting fruit, flowers, fungi, and decaying vegetation.

  • Larvae develop in decaying plant material and other moist organic substrates.

Size

  • Adult length: approximately 3–8 mm (0.12–0.3 in).

  • Body generally compact and oval, with the short, clubbed antennae typical of many sap beetles.

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