Lymexylidae

Taxobox
name = Ship-timber beetles

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Lymexylon navale"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Coleoptera
subordo = Polyphaga
infraordo = Cucujiformia
superfamilia = Lymexyloidea
familia = Lymexylidae
familia_authority = Fleming, 1821
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Atractocerus" "Australymexylon" "Hylecoetus" (= "Elateroides") "Lymexylon" "Melittomma" "Melittommopsis" "Promelittomma"The Lymexylidae, or ship-timber beetles, are a family of wood-boring beetles, and the sole member of the superfamily Lymexyloidea.

They are 7 to 18 mm long. The larvae bore into living and decaying wood, where they eat the fungi that grow in their tunnels. Some species are pests, killing live trees and damaging timber structures such as houses and ships.

There are 37 species in 7 genera, including:
* The chestnut timberworm, "Melittomma sericeum"
* The ship timber beetle, "Lymexylon navale"

External links

* L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz, [http://delta-intkey.com/britin/col/www/lymexyli.htm Lymexylidae]