Clerids

Clerids, also known as checkered beetles, are a family of beetles belonging to the order Coleoptera. They are characterized by their brightly colored and patterned elytra, which often display distinctive checkered or striped designs. This family, Cleridae, is distributed worldwide and contains over 3500 species. Clerids are diverse in their appearance, with sizes ranging from a few millimeters to over two centimeters. Their body shapes can also vary, but many have elongated bodies.

The life cycle of clerids typically involves a larval stage that is predatory. These larvae are often found in decaying wood, under bark, or within the nests of other insects, where they feed on the eggs, larvae, or adults of their prey. Many species are important predators of wood-boring beetles and other pests. Adult clerids are also often predatory or feed on pollen and nectar. Their bright coloration can serve as aposematic signaling, warning predators of their toxicity or unpalatability. Some species are mimics of stinging insects like wasps. The family Cleridae is economically significant due to the predatory role of many of its members in controlling pest populations in forests and agricultural settings.