Cryptophilus propinquus Reitter, 1874

This is one of two species that until recently have been known collectively as Cryptophilus integer (Heer, 1841), and included in the distinct family Languriidae Hope, 1840, and both are widely referred to in the literature with respect to this species. Originally abundant around the northern Mediterranean region from Spain to Greece, this species has spread throughout Europe with the trade in food and horticultural products etc. similarly it is now established widely though sporadically throughout the world e.g. Australasia, Asia and North and South America, and in warmer climates has become a minor pest of various stored products. In Europe it is widespread though very local and may be increasing in range and abundance; it has long been known from stored products in the UK but was first recorded in the wild in the early 21st century. In temperate northern regions of Europe, including the UK where it is occurs very locally in the south but seems to be spreading, adults occur throughout the year and seem to be most common in autumn and early winter when they sometimes appear in large numbers and have been found swarming in flight. Typical habitats are decomposing compost, grass cuttings and straw but they may occur among any material rich in mould and micro fungi on which both adults and larvae feed, such as accumulated leaf-litter or wood debris. Under artificial conditions both stages have been found throughout the year and it is likely they are continuous breeders under warm and humid conditions, in temperate regions they occur generally among food that was mouldy before it was packed and they form temporary populations depending on local conditions, thus they sometimes occur and breed in domestic kitchens and the opportunities for dispersal are good. In warmer regions they have been found breeding among a wide range of foods such as stored wheat and beans, flour, cereals, dried fruit and nuts and fresh fruits infested with moulds, they are sometimes abundant among rice residues and vegetable refuse and occur among traditional Chinese medicine ingredients. The most likely way to find specimens is by sieving compost or wood debris etc infested with mould.