Coleoptera

The 28 species of Anobiidae found in Britain are, as their colloquial name suggests, wood-borers and live by tunnelling in dead wood, bracket fungi and pine cones. Due to these habits some species are pests of great economic importance by causing damage to untreated timber and furniture. Some species have symbiotic bacteria living in their gut that facilitate the digestion of wood and other normally indigestible, cellulose-rich materials.

Fan-bearing Wood-borer (Hedobia imperialis) - Cheshire, England - May 2009

The distinctive Hedobia imperialis is the only member of its genus that occurs in Britain.