Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Home Research Hub dataZone Galapagos Species Database

Typhaea stercorea (Linnaeus, 1758)

escarabajo, Hairy fungus beetle

Dorsal view of Typhaea stercorea. Specimen ICCDRS7271 Photo: ICCDRS Collection.
Dorsal view of Typhaea stercorea. Specimen ICCDRS7271 Photo: ICCDRS Collection.

Fungivore on molds; arid zone; March, June; malaise trap, litter, at lights. The species occurs on moldy food products, and on stored products, but is often found in nature.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Animalia

Phylum
Arthropoda

Class
Insecta

Order
Coleoptera

Suborder
Polyphaga

Superfamily
Tenebrionoidea

Family
Mycetophagidae

Genus
Typhaea

Species
stercorea

Taxon category: Accepted

Origin: Introduced - established

Introduction

Year of first record: 1989

Mode of introduction: Accidental

Introduction Pathway: Contaminant

Subpathway: Food contaminant

Introduced status: Naturalized

Invasive status: Unlikely to become invasive

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz

References

  • Peck, S.B. (2006) The Beetles of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador: Evolution, Ecology, and Diversity (Insecta: Coleoptera) NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 314 pp.
  • Peck, S.B. Heraty, J., Landry, B. & Sinclair, B.J. (1998) Introduced insect fauna of an oceanic archipelago: The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Am. Entomol. 44: 218-237.
  • Peck, S.B. (1993) New beetle records from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (Coleoptera). Coleopterists Bull. 47(2): 151-157.
  • Peck, S.B. (1996) Origin and development of an insect fauna on a remote archipelago: The Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. In: Keast A., Miller S.E. (eds.): The origin and evolution of Pacific Island biotas, New Guinea to eastern Polynesia: patterns and processes. SPB Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, p. 91-122.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Typhaea stercorea", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7036. Accessed 12 October 2025.