Deretaphrus is a genus of dry bark beetles in the family Bothrideridae.[1][2][3][4] A taxonomic revision of the genus published in 2013 listed 25 species, which exhibit a disjunct distribution. There are 22 species of the genus described from Australia, with single species also being found in each of New Caledonia, Bolivia, and North America.[5]
The genus Deretaphrus was erected by Edward Newman in 1842, when he described four new species of beetle from specimens that had been collected in Port Phillip, Australia, which was then part of New South Wales.[6] Of these four species, the first listed, D. fossus, became the type of the genus.[7] The other species initially assigned to the genus, D. puteus, D. illusus and D. vittatus, were subsequently moved out of Deretaphrus, initially to the genus Bothrideres.[8]
The beetles in this genus have ectoparasitic larvae, the first instar being a mobile planidium, which is adapted to locate suitable hosts. Later instars have a more typical beetle-grub morphology and are typically found under tree bark, feeding on cerambycid and buprestid woodboring beetle grubs. The final larval instar spins a silken cocoon in which to pupate: an unusual character among beetles. Which part of the larva secretes the silk has not been determined, and it could come from the mouth or from anal glands.[9]
Adults are most often found under tree bark, or on its outer surface at night, but have also been collected at light traps. Examination of their gut contents suggests that their diet consists of plant material.[9]
In 1872 George Henry Horn described D. oregonensis from North America. Appended to his formal description is a note describing his initial disbelief that the first specimen of the species that he had been sent was actually, as claimed, from California.
A specimen was received several years since from California, but from a source whence Australian species had been sent, and little credit was therefore given to the authenticity of the locality, especially as all the known species were Australian. Lately, however, another has been attained free from any suspicion of error, and I have therefore ventured to name it.