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Family Histeridae - Clown Beetles
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 Histeridae (Clown Beetles)
Other Common Names Hister Beetles Explanation of Names Histeridae Gyllenhaal 1808
Numbers ~440 spp. in 58 genera in our area, ca. 4000 spp. in ~330 genera worldwide (1)(2); sample local faunas: CA 165 spp. (3), FL 139 spp. (4), WI 97 spp. (5), LA 96 spp. (6), Canada 135 spp. (7), Atlantic Canada 37 spp. (8), NB 42 (9)...
Overview of our fauna:
Family HISTERIDAE
Taxa not yet in the guide are marked (*)
Aphelosternus [unassigned]
Notes on some genera listed in (1): the alleged NA species of Euclasea · Chrysetaerius, and Mroczkowskiella are in fact members of Renclasea · Aritaerius, and Pinaxister, respectively (11). Identification Small to medium-sized, compact, sturdy beetles, typically black and shiny (a few are brightly colored). Family characteristics (12)(13):
elytra short, exposing two tergites
legs short, tibiae usually compressed, front tibiae modified for digging, middle tibiae often with long spines--provide traction on substrate
five visible abdominal sternites, the first one long, last very short
antennae distinctive: short, elbowed, with abrupt 3-segmented club, i.e., geniculate and capitate, usually fold into recesses on prothorax
Habitat dung, carrion, decomposing fungi, under bark, in ant nests, forest litter, flood debris, treeholes, bird nests, mammal/reptile burrows, at sap flows, under wrack on beaches, and on sandy beaches. Food Adults and larvae predatory on other insects (such as maggots), other small invertebrates. See Also other critters that may be mistaken for [micro]histerids:
Works Cited | 7. | The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 24. Coleoptera Histeridae
Bousquet Y., Laplante S. 2006. NRC Research press, Ottawa. 485 pp. | |
| 9. | New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Histeridae
Webster R.P., Makepeace S., Demerchant I., Sweeney J.D. 2012. Zookeys 179: 11-26. | |
| 12. | A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America
Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence. 1961. Row, Peterson, and Company. | |
| 13. | Peterson Field Guides: Beetles
Richard E. White. 1983. Houghton Mifflin Company. | |
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