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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Archostemata » Telephone-pole Beetles (Micromalthidae) » Micromalthus » Micromalthus debilis
Photo#166438
Micromalthidae Micromalthus debilis - Micromalthus debilis
Copyright © 2008 Michael C. Thomas

Micromalthidae Micromalthus debilis - Micromalthus debilis
nr. Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, USA
Size: 1 mm
Besides being tiny, these are very soft-bodied. This specimen was critical-point dried to keep it from shriveling but that treatment caused the wings to inflate and the elytra to spring open.
Contributed by Michael C. Thomas on 23 January, 2008 - 9:17am
Last updated 4 June, 2016 - 4:08pm

Once again
Great job! These are really cool beetles
… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 23 January, 2008 - 2:25pm

....
How tiny is tiny ?
… Sam Houston, 23 January, 2008 - 12:26pm

 
Tiny
A millimeter or so.
… Michael C. Thomas, 23 January, 2008 - 4:28pm

 
Nice!
Then that makes this an even more awesome pic! Very cool!
… Sam Houston, 23 January, 2008 - 4:41pm

 
Yes.
Very nice images of a strange creature. I suppose it is only a matter of time before they become 'wireless' and start boring in cell phones....:-)
… Eric R. Eaton, 28 January, 2008 - 4:44pm

 
Makes you believe in the possibility
that Stresiptera branched off somewhere close to Coleoptera
… margarethe brummermann, 18 November, 2010 - 11:01am

 
*
Indeed, recently (2010) Beutel et al published a phylogeny of the Holometabola, in which Strepsiptera fell out within the beetles. I have the paper in PDF form, but I don't have a link to it. Let me know if you want to see it.

Micromalthids are remarkable!
… Brendon E. Boudinot, 3 January, 2011 - 12:20pm

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