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This
family consists of flattened, soft-bodied beetles ranging from 5
to 20 millimetres in length. They have a triangular head and heavily
ridged elytra. Adults are usually red and black in colouring which
advertisers to potential predators that they are distasteful. Due
to their characteristic shape and colouring lycid beetles serve
as a model for many examples of mimicry for other insects including
wasps, flies, moths and other beetles.
Adult
lycid beetles can often be found on foliage and blossoms and may
feed on nectar. The larvae are also elongate and flattened in appearance
and may be found under the bark of trees, in leaf litter or soil
and are thought to feed on decaying plant matter, slime moulds or
yeasts.
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