Overview
Most anthribid larvae feed in dead wood, but some are associated with the fruiting bodies of certain fungi (Ascomycetes: Pyrenomycetes) and others feed on seeds of various kinds.
Araecerus fasciculatus
is a cosmopolitan pest of coffee, cocoa beans and spices;
A. palmaris
is unusual in that the larva develops in dried fruits. [Holloway 1982.]
Description
Moderately elongate to ovate, slightly to strongly convex beetles, usually clothed with black, brown and/or white decumbent hairs or scales forming pattern. Rostrum very short to moderately long and more or less flattened; antennae straight, very long in some males, with club which may be indistinct; labrum free and either on different plane than clypeus or separated from it by membrane; mandibles well developed and more or less acute; palps well developed and flexible; gular sutures absent; pronotum usually with transverse, sub-basal carina joined to lateral carinae, which may be very short to complete; legs without tibial spurs; tarsi usually toothed or cleft; pygidium exposed beyond edges of elytra. Pheromone-producing setiferous sex patches are sometimes found in males on the ventrites or occasionally in other locations (Holloway 1985).
Larvae short, broad, more or less C-shaped, very lightly sclerotised; antennae minute; legs highly reduced without claws, or absent. Frontoclypeal suture present; clypeus narrower than frons; mandibles robust; mala with thorn-like lacinia near middle of internal edge; most abdominal terga with 2 transverse folds.