Sap Beetles

Family Nitidulidae

Picnic beetle (Glischochrilus quadrisignatus). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

Most of these beetles are scavengers and live in fermenting plant sap, decaying fruit or fungi. Many occur in flowers, under bark of dead stumps and moldy logs, and a few occur around or in carrion. 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 (modified front wings that protect the hind wings). Many species have spots on the elytra.