ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

The Tenebrionidae family is a group of beetles commonly known as Darkling Beetles, that has over 20,000 species. The common name is said to be derived from the nocturnal habits (although some species are also seen during daylight). Many of these beetles tend to be dark in colour (shades of browns to black), with some species that have iridescent colours. The family is sometimes misspelt “Terebrionidae”.

Amarygmus sp, Minnamurra Beach NSW © Greg McCroary
Amarygmus sp, Minnamurra Beach NSW © Greg McCroary
Blaps polychresta (Egyptian Beetle), Alice Springs NT
Blaps polychresta (Egyptian Beetle), Alice Springs NT
Darkling Beetle (Ecnolagria aurofasciata), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Ecnolagria aurofasciata (Darkling Beetle), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Pie-dish Beetle (Helea scaphiformis), member of Darkling Beetles (family Tenebrionidae), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds © Dorothy Latimer
Helea scaphiformis (Pie-dish Beetle), Alice Springs Sewage Ponds © Dorothy Latimer
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Pterohelaeus sp (Blue Pie-dish Beetle), Alice Springs NT

The Tenebrionid beetles occupy ecological niches in mainly deserts and forests as plant scavengers. Most species are generalistic omnivores, and feed on decaying leaves, rotting wood, fresh plant matter, dead insects, and fungi as larvae and adults.

Source: Darkling beetle, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darkling_beetle
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
  • Family: Tenebrionidae
  • Informal: Tenebrionoid Branch
  • Subfamily: Tenebrioninae

Footnote & References

  1. TENEBRIONIDAE Latreille, 1802, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/e1d8fb3c-869d-446e-a9c2-4c83767592af

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub