Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles)

The darkling beetles (Tene­brionidae) are amongst the most speciose beetle families with more than 20,000 species worldwide. The small to large beetles are mostly thermophilic and are found in different habitats, but the majority of the species is found in deserts and steppes. From Germany only 67 species have been recorded. The beetles live on decaying wood, on fungi, under bark, in hay, in nests of small mammals or synanthropic. They are phytophagous or omnivorous. Many species have chemical defenses (containing quinones).