Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults: saprophagous
Immatures: saprophagous

North American
Species: 183

Coleoptera Nitidulidae
Sap beetles

Special Characteristics: The Nitidulidae are small elongated or oval beetles. Most species are brown or black, and they have a large head, large eyes and short elytra. Many species have spots on the elytra.

Comments: Most of these beetles are scavengers and live in fermenting plant sap, decaying fruit or in fungi. Many occur in flowers, under bark of dead stumps and moldy logs, and a few occur around or in carrion.

Species:
Glischochrilus quadrisignatus (Say)

Common Name:
Picnic beetle

Feeding Habits: The larvae of this species feed on a variety of fermenting substances.

Distribution:
Widespread in Canada.

Comments:
This species is attracted by the odour of fermenting fruits and vegetables. Most people encounter this species when the adult beetles fly into beer or soft drinks at summer picnics. This species is sometimes a pest of corn in central Canada.