title: Mezium
text: # Mezium
  
  Mezium is a genus of beetles in the subfamily Ptininae, the spider beetles. It is distributed throughout most of the world. There are two centers of distribution: an area extending from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco, including the Canary Islands; and an area extending through central and southern Africa. Several species are recently described African endemics. They are most common in coastal areas, and in regions with a Mediterranean climate.
  
  Their most common natural habitat type is caves, where they feed on animal feces, especially bat guano. They are adaptable to human-made structures such as barns and chicken coops.
  
  Species include:
  
  * Mezium affine – shiny spider beetle
  * Mezium africanum
  * Mezium americanum – American spider beetle, black spider beetle
  * Mezium andreaei
  * Mezium giganteum
  * Mezium glabrum
  * Mezium gracilicorne
  * Mezium horridum
  * Mezium namibiensis
  * Mezium pseudafricanum
  * Mezium pseudamericanum
  * Mezium setosum
  * Mezium sulcatum
  