TENEBRIONIDAE - DARKLING BEETLES
Darkling Beetles are herbivores that feed on fresh and decaying vegetation. The antennae have 11 segments and the tarsi have 4 segments on the hind pair and 5 segments on the other pairs. The tarsal claws are simple and the eyes are notched by a frontal ridge. Though many species in this group have black wing cases some species are brightly-coloured. Larvae of some species in this group are known as mealworms.
Click on the images to enlarge them.

Online Resources
For more information about this group see Dr Julio Ferrer´s website www.tenebrionidae.net
Many thanks to Dr Julio Ferrer for identifying the images in this gallery and providing assistance with Darkling Beetle information.
Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this pagewere taken by Paul Smith and Ted Faust and are used with their permission.
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FIGURE 1 - Phymatestes exsculpatus - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 2 - Poecilesthus luteomaculatus (Stenochiini) - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
Poecilesthus luteomaculatus imitates members of the distasteful Erotylidae, affording it protection against predators.
FIGURE 3 - Strongylium basale (Strongyliini) - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 4 - Strongylium equestre (Strongyliini) - Estancia Kanguery, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
FIGURE 5 - Strongylium sp. "haemorrhoidale group" - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith December 2007).
FIGURE 6 - Strongylium sp. "haemorrhoidale group" - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007 - ECOSARA Biodiversity Database).
FIGURE 7 - Zophobas opacus - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Ted Faust May 2008).
FIGURE 8 - Zophobas opacus - PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2008).
FIGURE 9 - Unidentified sp. (Subfamily Alleculidae) - Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith July 2007).
FIGURE 10 - Epitragus sp., Estancia Laguna Blanca, Departamento San Pedro (Paul Smith October 2008).