Elateriformia
Encyclopedia
Elateriformia is an infraorder of polyphaga
n beetle
s. The two largest families in this group are buprestids, of which there are around 15,000 described species
, and click beetle
s, of which there are around 10,000 described species
.
The infraorder consists of five superfamilies :
Polyphaga
Polyphaga is the largest and most diverse suborder of beetles; the name is derived from two two Greek words: poly-, meaning 'many', and phagein, meaning 'to eat', so the suborder is called the “eaters of many things”...
n beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s. The two largest families in this group are buprestids, of which there are around 15,000 described species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, and click beetle
Click beetle
The family Elateridae is commonly called click beetles , elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles or "skipjacks". They are a cosmopolitan beetle family characterized by the unusual click mechanism they possess...
s, of which there are around 10,000 described species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
.
The infraorder consists of five superfamilies :
- BuprestoideaBuprestoideaBuprestoidea is a superfamily of beetles.It contains two families:* Buprestidae Leach 1815, the jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles.* Schizopodidae LeConte 1861...
— the metallic wood-boring beetles - ByrrhoideaByrrhoideaThe superfamily Byrrhoidea includes a number of beetle families, most of which are either aquatic or associated with a semi-aquatic habitat. In fact, other than the superfamily Hydrophiloidea, the majority of the remaining Polyphagan beetles which are aquatic are in this superfamily...
— families including long-toed water beetles, moss beetles and mud-loving beetleHeteroceridaeThe Heteroceridae, or variegated mud-loving beetles, are a widespread and relatively common family of beetles. They occur on every continent except for Antarctica....
s - DascilloideaDascilloideaDascilloidea is a superfamily of polyphagan beetles, comprising two families: Dascillidae and Rhipiceridae ....
- ElateroideaElateroideaElateroidea is a large superfamily of beetles. It contains the familiar click beetles, fireflies, and soldier beetles, and their relatives.Certain clusters of families within the superfamily are more strongly related to one another; for example, the Elateridae has close ties to Anischiidae,...
— including the click beetleClick beetleThe family Elateridae is commonly called click beetles , elaters, snapping beetles, spring beetles or "skipjacks". They are a cosmopolitan beetle family characterized by the unusual click mechanism they possess...
s and soldier beetleSoldier beetleThe soldier beetles, Cantharidae, are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles, related to the Lampyridae or firefly family, but being unable to produce light. They are cosmopolitan in distribution. One common British species is bright red, reminding people of the red coats of soldiers, hence...
s - ScirtoideaScirtoideaScirtoidea is a superfamily of polyphagan beetles, comprising 3 families....