Description

 Adults are small, from less than 1mm to about 3mm, the largest members are among the genus Stephostethus LeConte, 1878, elongate to elongate-oval with the forebody generally narrower than the elytra, and most are rather drab, black to brown and cryptic in nature. The two subfamilies are morphologically distinct and readily distinguished; species of Corticariinae are pubescent, generally very finely so with recumbent hairs, lack prominent dorsal structure although pronotum usually has a median basal fovea or a sub-basal transverse groove and the lateral margins are often serrate, species of Latridiinae are glabrous or, occasionally, have erect setae, the head, pronotum and elytra often have longitudinal carinae, grooves or tubercles and the pronotal margin is usually smooth. Many species of Latridiinae also have waxy secretions to various parts of the body that appear as lateral membranes. The following description applies to the family generally. Head transverse to quadrate, often with a distinct, sometimes modified, neck and, in Latridiinae, often produced broadly in front of the eyes; vertex smooth to variously punctured and sculptured, often with a transverse impression or ridge near the base and/or oblique or curved supra-orbital impressions. Labrum well-sclerotized and usually at least partly visible from above, generally short and narrower than the clypeus but sometimes characteristically broad and curving around it e.g. in Adistemia Fall, 1899, Revelieria Perris, 1869 and Cartodere Thomson, C.G., 1859. Eyes glabrous and very variable; almost flat to very convex and protuberant, sometimes poorly developed e.g. in the cosmopolitan Adistemia watsoni (Wollaston, 1871) with a few large and convex translucent facets. Mandibles variable; from smooth and sharply-pointed to toothed internally and bi- or multi-dentate or lobed apically. Labial palpi 2- or 3-segmented, maxillary palpi 4-segmented, in each case the terminal segment is cylindrical to fusiform. Antennae, inserted laterally on the frons in front of the eyes, thin and usually relatively long; 11-segmented, sometimes 10-segmented e.g. in Migneuxia Jacquelin du Val, 1859, the basal segment usually enlarged and always with a 2- or 3-segmented club. Pronotum usually wider than the head, transverse to elongate and rounded, in Latridiinae often constricted in the basal half, smooth laterally and variously sculptured, in Corticariinae with basal impressions and toothed laterally, sometimes strongly so e.g. in the European Corticaria antonioi Otero, López & Rücker, 2013 with a series of sharp teeth each with a long apical seta, and in the Palaearctic C. serrata (Paykull, 1798) with prominent sharp teeth along the entire margin, sometimes the margin is almost smooth and there is a distinct tooth at the posterior angle e.g. Cortinicara gibbosa (Herbst, 1793). In most cases the surface is smoothly convex but in some e.g. Enicmus Thomson, C.G., 1859) or Dienerella Reitter, 1911 (Latridiinae) the margins are explanate or explanate with a raised lateral border. Prosternum short to long in front of round to oval and contiguous or narrowly separate coxal cavities which are open or closed posteriorly, prosternal process present and sometimes overlaying the mesosternum though sometimes diminutive, mesosternum short, sometimes distinctly notched posteriorly or with ridges between the round coxal cavities, metasternum long, wide and usually convex, sometimes produced anteriorly and emarginate posteriorly to receive the produced basal abdominal sternite, surface generally smooth and punctured. Meta-coxal cavities transverse, sometimes only weakly so e.g. Dienerella Reitter, 1911, and separate, usually widely so e.g. in Dienerella or Melanophthalma Motschulsky, 1866. The scutellum is generally small but distinct and level with the elytra, in some cases almost vertically oriented and not visible from above, the surface smooth or with various ridges which may be diagnostic for various genera. Elytra completely covering the abdomen except in some Melanophthalma, weakly convex and continuously rounded or separately produced apically. Shoulders simply rounded to prominent, lateral margins smooth or dentate, rounded or almost parallel-sided and sometimes explanate. Always with distinct punctured striae although these may be confused as the interstitial punctures may be very large, interstices sometimes modified with carinae, furrows or raised longitudinal tubercles. In most Corticariinae they are finely pubescent but the striae or interstices are often marked by rows of longer erect setae. Hind wings usually well-developed but sometimes missing e.g. in some Cartodere or Adistemia. Abdomen with 5 or 6 free and visible sternites; the basal sternite sometimes with femoral lines near the meta-coxae e.g. in Melanophthalma. Pro-coxae generally conical, prominent and closely approximated or contiguous, meso-coxae convex but less prominent and more widely separated. Meta-coxae transverse, rather flat and usually widely separated. Legs slender and relatively long and generally without prominent teeth or spurs. Tarsi formula 3-3-3 but in some genera the males are 2-3-3 or 2-2-3, usually with all segments simple or only narrowly expanded apically. Claws simple; without lobes, except in the Australian Rethusus Broun, 1886, or appendages and simply pointed or, rarely, bifid.