Ecology and classification of dermestid beetles (Coleoptera, Dermestidae) of the Palaearctic fauna

Data on ecology of 90 species of dermestid beetles from all the known subfamilies, tribes and most of genera in the Palaearctic fauna were obtained and summarized. The ecological groups of species were distinguished, and their hierarchical classification was elaborated. Comparison of this classification with the taxonomic classification of the family Dermestidae has shown the coincidence of the two systems down to the tribe level. The ecological groups of lower ranks correspond to genera, subgenera, or groups of closely related species. Thus, members of each taxon occupy a certain adaptive zone. The ecological groups of the same classification level are characterized by a particular type of adaptations. The data obtained were used for development of hypotheses on the origin and evolutionary trends of the basal dermestid lineages. These data may also be used for improvement of the classification of the family and solution of some taxonomic problems.