Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Cercyon pygmaeus

Minute Hydrophilid? - Cercyon pygmaeus Minute Hydrophilid? - Cercyon pygmaeus Cercyon - Cercyon pygmaeus Cercyon pygmaeus - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Staphyliniformia)
Superfamily Hydrophiloidea
Family Hydrophilidae (Water Scavenger Beetles)
Subfamily Sphaeridiinae
Tribe Megasternini
Genus Cercyon
No Taxon (Subgenus Cercyon)
Species pygmaeus (Cercyon pygmaeus)
Explanation of Names
Cercyon pygmaeus (Illiger 1801)
Size
1‒1.6 mm (smallest member of the genus)(1)
Identification
Color variable; complete metasternal lines; narrow mesosternal crest; elytra without setae(1)
Range
Introduced from Palearctic. transcontinental in NA (across s.Canada & the US)(1)
Habitat
decaying organic matter, including compost, horse & cow manure, and debris near wet areas. Flies during the day and comes to light.(1)
Remarks
Earliest eastern specimens known are from Tyngsboro MA in 1868 & 1871. Earliest known specimens from the west coast were from Fieldbrook CA in 1903 and Monroe WA in 1905.(1)
Works Cited
1.Revision of the subfamily Sphaeridiinae of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)
Smetana A. 1978. Mem. Ent. Soc. Canada 105: 1–292.