Hydroscaphidae
Hydroscaphidae Temporal range:
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Hydroscapha natans | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Suborder: | Myxophaga |
Superfamily: | Sphaeriusoidea |
Family: | Hydroscaphidae LeConte, 1874 |
Genera | |
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The Hydroscaphidae are a small family of water beetles known commonly as skiff beetles.[1] As of 2010, there are 23 species in the family.[2] Several are recently described.
These beetles are small, most under 2 mm (0.079 in) in length. They are tan to brown in color and the
Hydroscaphidae live on mats of algae with a thin layer of running water. This may be the accumulated algae lining the very edge of a stream of water.[3] They tolerate a wide range of temperatures; they have been observed in hot springs and in icy snowmelt. The algae are their food source.[2]
The reproductive cycle is not well known. In at least one species, the female lays a single large egg on the algal mat.[2]
Hydroscaphid species have been reported from every continent except Antarctica.
Genera:[4]
- USA and Europe.
- Scaphydra Reichardt, 1973 – Brazil.
- Yara Reichardt & Hinton, 1976 – South America and Central America.
- Confossa Short, Joly, García & Maddison, 2015 – South America[5]
References
- doi:10.1666/11-050.1.
- ^ a b c d Falamarzi, S.; et al. (2010). "Confirmed occurrence of Hydroscapha granulum in Iran, with notes on its biology (Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Hydroscaphidae)" (PDF). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 50: 97–106.
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- .
- ^ "Confossa minima Short, Joly, Garcia, Wild, Bloom & Maddison, 2015, new species - Plazi TreatmentBank". treatment.plazi.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
Further reading
- Hall, W. Eugene (2001). "4. Hydroscaphidae LeContre, 1874". In ISBN 978-1-4822-7432-5.
External links
- Hydroscaphidae. Tree of Life.