Overview

Cupedid larvae bore into dead wood that has been previously attacked by fungi, but they may occur in fairly dry habitats. Larvae of D. varians have been collected in structural timber in Canberra. [Neboiss 1968, 1984, 1987.]

Description

Distinguished from Omma by the unidentate mandibles (with an additional subapical tooth) and by characters given in the family key. Body more flattened and always clothed with flattened scales; elytra with rows of large, subquadrate window punctures (deep punctures with very thin, translucent cuticle at the bottom). Larvae lightly sclerotised, eruciform, with short legs and median spine on T9; head with long, median endocarina; mandibles robust with transversely ridged molae; labium with unique sclerotised ligula.

Distribution

Cupedidae are known from all continents and most large islands, including New Caledonia (but not New Zealand). In Australia, Distocupes varians is distributed from Tas. to southern Qld, while Adinolepis (5 spp.) occur in the South-East (as far west as Adelaide), north Qld, and south-western W.A.