HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Giving Tuesday

Do you use BugGuide? Please consider a monetary gift on this Giving Tuesday.

Donate Now

Your donation to BugGuide is tax-deductible.

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Myxophaga » Minute Bog Beetles (Sphaeriusidae)

Family Sphaeriusidae - Minute Bog Beetles

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Print References · Works Cited

Specimen 3, dorsal folded left wing - Sphaerius

Specimen 3, anterior (left palp missing) - Sphaerius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Myxophaga

Family Sphaeriusidae (Minute Bog Beetles)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Microsporidae Crotch 1873, Sphaeriidae Erichson 1845

Explanation of Names

Sphaeriusidae Erichson 1845

Numbers

a single genus, with 3 nominal spp. in our area(1), ~20 spp. worldwide

Size

0.5-1.2 mm(1)

Identification

Very small beetles with clubbed antennae, large hind coxal plates, and abdominal sternites of unequal width(1)

Range

worldwide except S. America; in our area, so. US & WA(1)

Habitat

Along rivers and streams, in bog mosses, and moist leaf litter(1)

Food

Algae(1)

Print References

International Committee of Zoological Nomenclature. 2000. Opinion 1957, Sphaerius Waltl, 1838 (Insecta, Coleoptera): conserved; and Sphaeriidae Erichson, 1845 (Coleoptera): spelling emended to Sphaeriusidae, so removing the homonymy with Sphaeriidae Deshayes, 1854 (1820) (Mollusca, Bivalvia). Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 57(3):182-184.

Jäch, M. A. 1999. Case 3052. Sphaerius Waltl, 1838 and Sphaeriusidae Erichson, 1845 (Insecta, Coleoptera): proposed conservation by the partial revocation of Opinion 1331. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 56(2):117-120.

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). 2000. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.

Contributed by Brad Barnd on 27 June, 2010 - 5:19pm
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, v belov
Last updated 16 January, 2014 - 2:52pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version