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This
family of beetles is greatly varied in size and shape making it
difficult to give a general description, although most range from
2 to 30 millimetres in body length. Tenebrionid beetles are usually
black or brown in colour, although some may have a metallic sheen.
Most species are nocturnal and can be found on the ground, hiding
under the bark of trees and under logs and stones.
Both
adults and larvae feed on dead and decaying plant or fungal products,
and some species are known to be agricultural pests. Tenebrionids are
found in most habitats across Australia from rainforests to desert environments.
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Helea
castor is commonly known as a pie-dish beetle and can grow
to around 18 millimetres in length. Pie-dish beetles are flattened
in shape and have flanges around the edges of their elytra and
prothorax, which can be quite large. These beetles are flightless
as their elytra are fused together and they lack hind wings.
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For
more darkling beetle species visit the Australian
Insect Common
Names
- Tenebrionidae section found here.
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