Concept
Darkling beetle is the common name for members of the beetle family Tenebrionidae. The number of species in the Tenebrionidae is estimated at more than 20,000 and the family is cosmopolitan in distribution. Tenebrio is the Latin generic name that Carl Linnaeus assigned to some flour beetles in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae 1758-59. The name means "lover of darkness"; the English language term 'darkling' means "characterised by darkness or obscurity"; see also English 'tenebrous', figuratively "obscure, gloomy." Numerous Tenebrionidae species do inhabit dark places; however, there are many species in genera such as Stenocara and Onymacris, which are active by day and inactive at night. The family covers a varied range of forms, such that classification presents great difficulties. These eleven subfamilies were listed in the 2021 review by Bouchard, Bousquet, et al., updating a similar catalog from 2005. Alleculinae Laporte, 1840 Blaptinae Leach, 1815 Diaperinae Latreille, 1802 Kuhitangiinae G.S. Medvedev, 1962 Lagriinae Latreille, 1825 Nilioninae Oken, 1843 Phrenapatinae Solier, 1834 Pimeliinae Latreille, 1802 Stenochiinae Kirby, 1837 Tenebrioninae Latreille, 1802 Zolodininae Watt, 1975 Ongoing phylogenetic studies are showing that some taxonomic changes are needed. For instance the tribal classification of tribe Pedinini has recently been altered. The misspelling "Terebrionidae" occurs frequently enough to be easily overlooked. The error appears to have no particular significance, but to be the product of misreadings, mis-scans and mis-typings. The oldest known member of the family is Jurallecula from the Late Jurassic Karabastau Formation of Kazakhstan, assigned to the subfamily Alleculinae. The Tenebrionidae may be identified by a combination of features, including: Their 11-segmented antennae that may be filiform, moniliform or weakly clubbed First abdominal sternite is entire and not divided by the hind coxae Eyes notched by a frontal ridge The tarsi have four segments in the hind pair and five in the fore and mid legs (5-5-4), tarsal claws are simple Tenebrionid beetles occupy ecological niches in mainly deserts and forests as plant scavengers.
