libutron: Pleasing Fungus Beetle - Erotylidae Pleasing fungus beetles of the family Erotylidae (Cole

libutron:

Pleasing Fungus Beetle - Erotylidae

Pleasing fungus beetles of the family Erotylidae (Coleoptera) are easily recognized by their usually red, orange, yellow or purple bright color combined with black, forming patterns of stripes, spots or rings. 

Their common name is because these beetles are mycophagous, which means that they eat fungus, and the fruiting bodies of mushrooms provide the only food for both larvae and adults. In fact, Erotylidae is a very important part of the mycophagous fauna in the tropics, and are largely responsible for recycling the nutrients, which are absorbed by fungi during decomposition of organic matter, and dispersing them through out the food chain. 

The beetles copulate on or near the host-fungus. Fertilized female lay eggs into the hymenophore or directly on the fructification, and larvae feed on or inside the fungus, devouring all its available parts.

This one purple Pleasing Fungus Beetle in the photos could be ErotylusorGibbifer.

References: [1] - [2] - [3]

Photo credits: ©Shirley Sekarajasingham | Locality: Vaupes River, Mitu area, Amazon Basin, eastern Colombia (2011) | [Top] - [Bottom]