Laemophloeus is a genus of beetles; it is the type genus of the family Laemophloeidae. The genus has been almost completely reviewed in modern times. Following by recognizing only those species congeneric with the type species, Laemophloeus monilis (Fabricius), as valid members of the genus reduces the size of the genus from more than a hundred species to only 28, as follows (with their distribution):
Laemophloeus apache Thomas [North America]Laemophloeus biguttatus (Say) [North America]Laemophloeus buenavista Thomas [Mexico, Central and South America]Laemophloeus capitisculptus Thomas [South America]Laemophloeus concinnus Thomas [Central and South America]Laemophloeus corporoflavus Thomas [South America]Laemophloeus dozieri Thomas [South America]Laemophloeus fasciatus Melsheimer [North America]Laemophloeus fervidus Casey [North America]Laemophloeus germaini Grouvelle [Central and South America]Laemophloeus incisus Sharp [Central and South America]Laemophloeus insulatestudinas Thomas [Galapagos]Laemophloeus kraussi Ganglbauer [Europe]Laemophloeus lecontei Grouvelle [North, Central, and South America, West Indies]Laemophloeus macrognathus Reitter [Central and South America]Laemophloeus mathani Grouvelle [South America]Laemophloeus megacephalus Grouvelle [North, Central, and South America, West Indies]Laemophloeus monilis (Fabricius) [Europe, North Africa, Asia]Laemophloeus muticus (Fabricius) [Europe, Asia]Laemophloeus nigricollis Lucas [Europe, North Africa]Laemophloeus planaclavatus Thomas [South America]Laemophloeus ribbei Reitter [Siberia]Laemophloeus sexarticulatus Kessel [Mexico, Central and South America]Laemophloeus shastanus Casey [North America]Laemophloeus submonilis Reitter [Japan, Siberia]Laemophloeus suturalis Reitter [North, Central and South America]Laemophloeus taurus Thomas [Mexico, South America]Laemophloeus terminalis Casey [North America]Those species still listed as Laemophloeus in published or online lists (e.g.) should be listed as Laemophloeus (sens. lat.).
Like most members of the Laemophloeidae, Laemophloeus species are found under bark of dead trees, where they seem to feed primarily on fungus, especially Ascomycetes. They range in size from moderate to large for the family (2mm-4mm in length). The members of the genus occur throughout the Palaearctic and Nearctic Regions, but extend south into the tropics in the New World, where five other closely related genera are found.
