Dasydactylus

Dasydactylus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Erotylidae
Tribe: Languriini
Genus: Dasydactylus
Gorham, 1887
Type species
Dasydactylus buprestoides
Gorham, 1887


Dasydactylus is an American genus in the pleasing fungus beetle family (Erotylidae). They belong to the lizard beetle tribe Languriini of subfamily Languriinae; formerly, their subfamily was considered a distinct family, and their tribe up-ranked to subfamily status, whereas some recent authors prefer to merge Languriinae into subfamily Erotylinae.[1][2]

The roughly 25-30 members of this genus are essentially restricted to Central America, with only one species ranging north into southernmost Texas and a few records from northern Colombia. They are small beetles, about one-quarter to half an inch long (6-10 mm), with an elongated and slender shape, blackish with a metallic sheen, and in some species contrasting red areas.[1][2][3]

Species in this genus include:[1][3]

  • Dasydactylus aeneopiceus Gorham, 1898
  • Dasydactylus buprestoides Gorham, 1887
  • Dasydactylus cnici Schaeffer, 1904
  • Dasydactylus sellatus

References

  1. ^ a b c "Genus Dasydactylus". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  2. ^ a b "Genus Dasydactylus (version of 3 May 2013)". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2026-06-16.
  3. ^ a b Leschen, Richard A.B. & Węgrzynowicz, Piotr (1998): Generic catalogue and taxonomic status of Languriidae (Cucujoidea). Ann.Zool. 48(3/4): 221-243. PDF fulltext

Further reading

  • Leschen, Richard A. B. (2003). Erotylidae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cucujoidea) phylogey and review. Fauna of New Zealand. Vol. 47. Manaaki Whenua Press. ISBN 978-0-478-09350-6. ISSN 0111-5383.
  • Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2007). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 4: Elateroidea - Derodontoidea - Bostrichoidea - Lymexyloidea - Cleroidea - Cucujoidea. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-8788757675.