New North American associations of Coleoptera with Myxomycetes

Abstract

New slime mould (Myxomycetes) host records are reported for North American Coleoptera, increasing documented beetle/slime mould associations for the region by about 140% (633 new records). Data confirm previously reported associations and represent many new associations including hosts of 27 beetle taxa in the following families: Leiodidae, Staphylinidae (Scaphidiinae), Eucinetidae, Sphindidae, Lathridiidae, and Cerylonidae. Sixty-one species representing 7 families of Myxomycetes are recorded as hosts as either plasmodia, sporocarps, or sclerotia. Patterns of myxomycophagy and co-occurrence of beetle taxa on a single host are discussed.