Family: Laemophloeidae
Subfamily: none defined in Laemophloeidae
Length: 3.0-4.5 mm
The Lined Flat Bark Beetles family has a descriptive common name, since its members are flattened for life under bark, and the elytra are impressed with striae. Also look for impressed lines toward the sides of the head and pronotum, and for long antennae.
Some members of the family are predacious, while others feed on fungi. A few species, including one in the genus Laemophloeus, are pests of stored grains.
Laemophloeus fasciatus is found under bark, as is its congener, Laemophloeus biguttatus. Note, however, that L. biguttatus has the elytral punctation much more dense.
Left: it is easy to see the resemblance of L. fasciatus (shown here) to another West Virginia underbark species, Cucujus clavipes. At one time the two species were included in the same family, Cucujidae.
Right: Laemophloeus fasciatus is one flat beetle, well-prepared for moving between the bark and the trunk of a dead tree.
