Major Group: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scirtidae |
Descriptive Features:
Adults
head with paired genal ridges beneath, which fit against edges of procoxae
antennae 11-segmented without distinct club
ventral portion of the notum, (hypomeron) on each side joined directly to the sternum by notosternal
suture
pleuron reduced and concealed
abdomen with more than 3 ventrites
elytra exposing less than 2 complete abdominal tergites; body less than 4 times as long as
tibiae each with 2 fine longitudinal carinae
tarsi with penultimate segment strongly lobed and densely setose below, excavate above, terminal segment arising from its base
size:
Larvae
antennae with >10 segments
labrum separated from head capsule by complete suture
maxillary palp 4-segmented
mandibular mola present
legs present
size: |
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Scirtidae larva |
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Scirtidae adult |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Genera
Cyphon 2 species
Heterocyphon 2 species
Macrocyphon spencei Armstrong
Macrodascillus 2 species
Macrohelodes 9 species
Ora 3 species
Pseudomicrocara 18 species
Prionocyphon niger Kitching & Allsopp
Scirtes 29 species |
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Distribution: N Aus, Tas, S Aus
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 6
Functional Feeding Group: filtering collectors (larvae); terrestrial adults |
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Tuppal Creek near Deniliquin, NSW |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Commonly known as ‘marsh beetles’, adult scirtid beetles are terrestrial and are found on vegetation close to water and water filled tree hollows. The larvae occur in lentic habitats, such as ponds, marshes or bogs where they are restricted to the littoral zone.
Feeding ecology: Larvae are filter-feeders, feeding on detritus by filtering it from the surface of leaves and stones using complex comb-like mouthparts.
Habit: Larvae are surface breathers, utilising atmospheric oxygen.
Life history: Little is known about the life history of Australian marsh beetles. They are thought to produce one generation each year in temperate regions. Larvae pupate among dead leaves or in mud chambers or cells on land
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Information Sources: Watts 202, 2004, Lawrence & Britton 1991, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2002
Key to Genera: none
Key to Species: none |
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