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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

phylogeny, color patterning, fungus beetles, Coleoptera Erotylidae

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

The family Erotylidae (pleasing fungus beetles) currently includes 125 genera, and approximately 2,500 described species and has a worldwide distribution. There are five currently recognized subfamilies within Erotylidae: Dacninae, Megalodacninae, Eucaustinae, Tritominae, and Erotylinae. Erotylids are mycophagous, feeding on basidiomycete fungi, and exhibit a wide range of gregarious behavior. Most erotylids have a striking appearance, exhibiting bright colors including red, yellow, pink, and purple, frequently in combination with contrasting black. These colors are often arranged in zigzag, banding, or polka dot patterns. It has been suggested that the striking coloration found among erotylids is aposematic, and erotylids are consequently presumed to be involved in many mimicry complexes with other insects. However, the phylogenetic pattern of this aposematism has never been elucidated nor has it been associated with host preference. It is therefore unclear whether the origin of a specific color pattern is a result of a single evolutionary event, or if certain color patterns have evolved multiple times within Erotylidae, perhaps as a result of convergence to similar hosts. Additionally, it has yet to be determined if discrete color pattern progressions exist among these beetle lineages, such as a transition from banding to a dotted pattern.

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