Image Credit: Udo Schmidt
Sap-feeding beetles (Nitidulidae: Epuraea) – fungivores. Though several genera of nitidulids are known to damage crops by feeding on flowers and disrupting the presence of bees, I don’t think we have that problem in the PNW. Epuraea is found frequently on flowers during the early spring (often covered with pollen), even during rainy weather during which other pollinators will refuse to fly. In the Andrews Forest it is clearly the most important pollinator of coltsfoot (Petasites); it may play a similar role with other species of plants either on the forest-meadow ecotone or under the canopy itself.
Unlike most members of the Nitidulidae, which have shortened elytra (“shield wings”) that expose part of the abdomen, Epuraea is completely covered. It is recognized by tiny size, extremely flat body and clubbed antennae.