Corylophidae LeConte, 1852

Berx, Peter, Bosmans, Bart, Dekoninck, Wouter, Janssen, Marc, Stassen, Eugène & Crevecoeur, Luc, 2023, Faunistic survey of myrmecophilous and other ant-associated beetles and spiders in the Belgian province of Limburg (Araneae, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 141, pp. 1-61 : 12

Corylophidae LeConte, 1852

Sericoderus lateralis (0.9-2mm) ( Fig.9) is one of the smallest beetles found in decomposing plant debris, feeding mainly on the spores of Basidiomycetes and others. With the presence of 366 specimens in 77 grids of 1 x 1 km (Annex), we define Sericoderus lateralis as a very common species. The large radius of action can be partly attributed to the strong dispersal capacity of this tiny beetle. Of the 366 specimens recorded in our data, no less than 196 of these minute hooded beetles were trapped with flight-interception traps and only one could be linked to a L. fuliginosus nest. Temnothorax affinis is an ant that resides in the canopy of trees, inhabits twigs and whose nests are difficult to access for research. In Diepenbeek, it was found foraging on a dead cherry tree, where a single specimen of S. lateralis was also collected using a circle trunk trap ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig.1. Dead fruit tree with circle trunk trap generating a barrier for upwards climbing insects.