Major Group: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Sphaeriusidae (formerly Microsporidae and Sphaeriidae) Genus: Sphaerius (formerly Microsporus) In Australia, this family contains a single aquatic genus, Sphaerius. |
Descriptive Features: Adults
antennae with distinct 3-segmented club
body shiny black, hemispherical
wings rolled apically
abdomen with only 3 ventrites
tarsi 3-segmented
size: minute, <1 mm Larvae
antennae 2-segmented
labrum separated from head capsule by complete suture
mandibular mola present
maxillary palp 2-segmented
abdomen 9- or 10-segmented
abdominal spiracles 1-8 forming balloon-like tracheal gills
abdomen with a pair of small spiracular gills or tubercles on each of segments 1 - 8
abdominal segment 9 with paired processes, unsegmented, immovable
legs 4-segmented with 1 claw
size: <2mm |
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Spaeriusidae larva |
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Spaeriusidae adult |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Species Sphaerius coenensis Oke Sphaerius ovensensis Oke |
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Distribution: S. coenensis Qld S. ovensensis NSW, Vic
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 7 (as Microsporidae)
Functional Feeding Group: shredders (adults), predators (larvae) |
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tributary to Barron River, Kuranda Qld |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Sphaeriusid beetles are part of the interstitial fauna that lives in accumulations of gravel, sand and mud at the edges of streams and rivers Feeding ecology: Adults are herbivores feeding on algae. Larvae are predators. However both adults and larva may also be scavengers feeding on detritus Habit: Adult sphaeriusid beetles are minute and spherical. Larvae have eight pairs of balloon-like spiracular gills on the abdomen enabling them to breathe underwater. Life history:
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Information Sources: Lawrence & Britton 1991, Lawrence 1992, Lawrence et al. 2000, Mathews 1980, Lawrence et al. 2000, Jaech 2001 Key to Species: none |
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