File: <lathridi.htm>

COLEOPTERA, Lathridiidae

These are called "minute brown scavenger beetles," which are found in moldy places and debris and occasionally on flowers. Adults of Enicmus minutus L. feed extensively on the beech scale, Cryptococcus fagi Baer, in England. The South American Coccidophilus citricola Brethes, is predatory in its active stages on diaspine Coccidae (Flanders 1936b). Females lay their eggs beneath the host scale covering, and hatching occurs in 8-9 days. The larvae feed for 10 days, but the stage persists for 13-20 days. They pupate in crevices, and adult beetles emerge 5 days later. The life cycle from egg to adult is 27-35 days at 24-27°C. (Clausen 1940/62).

References: Please refer to <biology.ref.htm>, [ Additional references may be found at: MELVYL Library ]