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 elytra are abbreviated, leaving several tapering tergites of the abdomen exposed. The wings are fringed with long setae. The larvae are fusiform, with a wide thorax and a narrowing abdomen.[2]
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]
- HydroscaphaLeConte, 1874 – United States and Europe.
- ScaphydraReichardt, 1973 – Brazil.
- YaraReichardt & Hinton, 1976 – South America and Central America.
- ConfossaShort, Joly, García & Maddison, 2015 – South America[5]
References
- ↑Cai, C.; et al. (2012). "The first skiff beetle (Coleoptera: Myxophaga: Hydroscaphidae) from Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota". Journal of Paleontology. 86 (1): 116–9. Bibcode:2012JPal...86..116C. doi:10.1666/11-050.1.
- 1234Falamarzi, 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.
- ↑ Fikáček, M.; Šípková, H. (2009). "Nuevos Hydroscapha asiáticos , con comentarios sobre la asociación macho-hembra de especies coexistentes (Coleoptera, Myxophaga, Hydroscaphidae)" (PDF) . Zootaxa . 2286 : 31–48 . doi : 10.11646/zootaxa.2286.1.2 .
- ↑ Beutel, R G.; Haas, A. (1998). "Morfología de la cabeza larval de Hydroscapha natans (Coleoptera, Myxophaga) con referencia a la miniaturización y la posición sistemática de Hydroscaphidae.]". Zoomorphology . 118 (2): 103– 116. doi : 10.1007/s004350050061 .
- ↑ "Confossa minima Short, Joly, Garcia, Wild, Bloom & Maddison, 2015, nueva especie - Plazi TreatmentBank" . treatment.plazi.org . Consultado el 6 de enero de 2024 .
Lecturas adicionales
- Hall, W. Eugene (2001). "4. Hydroscaphidae LeContre, 1874" . En Arnett, Ross H. Jr .; Thomas, Michael C. (eds.). American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia . CRC Press. pp. 27–29 . ISBN 978-1-4822-7432-5.
Enlaces externos
- Hidroscáfidos. Árbol de la vida.
- Myxophaga
- Familias de escarabajos
- Taxones nombrados por John Lawrence LeConte