Tarsostenus

Tarsostenus are oblong beetles 3.5–8.0 mm long and 1.0–2.0 mm wide. They can be recognised by a distinctly oblong pronotum with glabrous streaks on the disc and without lateral tubercles, the elytral disc with 10 rows of punctations, and the unguis lacking a denticle.^[3]

Several species within the genus have a transverse white band halfway along the elytra.^[4]

Based on those species whose ecology is known, Tarsostenus are predators on wood-boring beetles.

For example, T. univittatus preys on bostrichids (Lyctus, Sinoxylon, Xylobiops and Trogoxylon^[5]) and anobiines.^[6] It has been found in borer-infested lumber and wooden furniture from a range of different trees: ash, hickory, persimmon, white oak, Vahellia tortilis (=Acacia tortilis) Hayne raddiana, pecan, Cercis siliquastrum, Corymbia maculata (=Eucalyptus maculata), Ficus retusa, Schinus terebinthifolius and Triplochiton sclerodendron.^[5]

Tarsostenus hilaris has been collected from Eucalyptus "laden with various species of cerambycids".^[4]

The holotype of T. kanak was collected by beating unspecified vegetation in a rainforest.^[4]

Listed below are the species of Tarsostenus, along with their distributions:^[4]

• Tarsostenus antehelvis Optiz, 2016 - Papua New Guinea
• Tarsostenus bicolor Optiz, 2016 - New Caledonia
• Tarsostenus hilaris (Westwood, 1849) - Australia
• Tarsostenus kanak Optiz, 2016 - New Caledonia
• Tarsostenus tricolor (Heller, 1916) - New Caledonia
• Tarsostenus univittatus Rossi, 1972 - Cosmopolitan