(SPHAERIIDAE)

Code QC039999

Minute (under 1mm), almost perfectly oval beetles. Strongly convex dorsally, black and shiny. The antennae are 11-segmented but small, with a 3-segmented club. The elytra cover the whole of the abdomen. There are only 3 visible sternites.

The family (suborder Myxophaga) comprises a single genus, Microsporus (= Sphaerius ) which occurs throughout the northern hemisphere and in Madagascar and Australia. The two described Australian species occur in New South Wales/Victoria and in northern Queensland. Adults and larvae are found in wet mud and gravel at the edges of streams, and probably feed on algae.

Reference:

Lawrence, J.F. and Britton, E.B. (1991) Coleoptera. pp. 543-683. In: CSIRO, Insects of Australia. Volume 2. Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Victoria.