Mezium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mezium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mezium americanum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Family: | Ptinidae |
| Subfamily: | Ptininae |
| Tribe: | Meziini |
| Genus: | Mezium Curtis, 1828 |
| Species | |
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See text | |
Mezium is a genus of beetles in the subfamily Ptininae, the spider beetles. It is distributed throughout most of the world. There are two centers of distribution: an area extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco, including the Canary Islands; and an area extending through central and southern Africa. Several species are recently described African endemics.[1] They are most common in coastal areas, and in regions with a Mediterranean climate.[1]
Their most common natural habitat type is caves, where they feed on animal feces, especially bat guano. They are adaptable to human-made structures such as barns and chicken coops.[1]
- Mezium affine – shiny spider beetle
- Mezium africanum
- Mezium americanum – American spider beetle, black spider beetle
- Mezium andreaei
- Mezium giganteum
- Mezium glabrum
- Mezium gracilicorne
- Mezium horridum
- Mezium namibiensis
- Mezium pseudafricanum
- Mezium pseudamericanum
- Mezium setosum
- Mezium sulcatum
