Bostrichoidea is a Taxonomic rank of . It is the type superfamily of the infraorder Bostrichiformia.
Description
The Bostrichoidea are united by the following features: modified cryptonephridism, the structure of the
aedeagus in males, and the lack of a basal mandibular mola in larvae.
Aside from this, Bostrichoidea show a range of morphologies. For example, in Bostrichidae alone, the adult body shape varies from convex to flattened, the body length from , and the colour may be yellow, brown or black and sometimes has a metallic hue.
Ecology
Bostrichoids generally live in dry habitats. For example, many Bostrichidae
Xylophagy, though some attack
Monocotyledon plants as well and
Rhyzopertha feeds on stored grains and cereal products.
Similarly, most Ptinidae are wood-borers as larvae but some feed on other dry plant or animal material, such as stored foods, tobacco and museum specimens.
Dermestidae are typically
Scavenger on dried organic matter with a high protein content, with some species being predators or feeding on pollen and nectar.
Families and subfamilies
Bostrichoidea includes the following subgroups:
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Family Bostrichidae Latreille, 1802 - Horned Powder-post Beetles
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Family Dermestidae Latreille, 1804 - Carpet Beetles
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Family Endecatomidae LeConte, 1861
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Family Ptinidae Latreille, 1802 (formerly Anobiidae)
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Subfamily Alvarenganiellinae Viana and MartÃnez, 1971
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Subfamily Anobiinae Fleming, 1821 - Death-watch Beetles
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Subfamily Dorcatominae Thomson, 1859
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Subfamily Dryophilinae Gistel, 1848
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Subfamily Ernobiinae Pic, 1912
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Subfamily Eucradinae LeConte, 1861
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Subfamily Mesocoelopodinae Mulsant and Rey, 1864
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Subfamily Ptilininae Shuckard, 1839
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Subfamily Ptininae Latreille, 1802 - Spider Beetles
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Subfamily Xyletininae Gistel, 1848
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