Dascillidae is a family of beetles within the clade Elateriformia. There are about 100 extant species in 11 genera, which are found worldwide. Dascillidae together with Rhipiceridae form the super family Dascilloidea.
Taxonomy
The family was named by Guérin Méneville in 1843. The family is divided up into two poorly defined subfamilies Karumiinae, and Dascillinae.
Description
Adult Dascillidae are 4.5–25 mm long with an elongate body that is somewhat convex in cross-section. They are covered in dense grey/brown hairs. Karumiines have highly modified soft-bodies, similar to some members of Elateroidea.
Ecology
The adults can be found on grass during the springtime. The larvae occur in moist soil or under rocks. The larvae are thought to feed on roots or decaying plant matter. Some karumiines like Karumia are associated with termites.
Genera
Anorus
Dascillus
Karumia
Notodascillus
Coptocera Murray
Metallidascillus Pic
Petalon Schoenherr
Sinocaulus Fairmaire
Drilocephalus Pic
Pleolobus Philippi & Philippi
Genecerus Walker
Emmita Escaler
†Baltodascillus Baltic Amber, Eocene
†Cretodascillus Yixian Formation, China, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) †Lyprodascillus Shanwang, China, Miocene (familial attribution uncertain) †Parelateriformius Daohugou Beds, China, Middle–Late Jurassic
