Jacobsoniidae

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Jacobsoniidae
Temporal range: latest Albian - Present
~100–0 Ma
Sarothrias sinicus in various views, scale bar = 0.5 mm
Saphophagus minutus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Staphyliniformia
Superfamily: Staphylinoidea
Family: Jacobsoniidae
Heller, 1926
Synonyms
  • Sarothriidae Crowson, 1955
  • Derolathriinae Sen Gupta, 1979

Jacobsoniidae are a family of tiny beetles belonging to Staphylinoidea.[1] The larvae and adults live under bark, in plant litter, fungi, bat guano and rotten wood.[2] There are around 30 described species in three genera:[3]

Members of this family have a small body size (0.7-2.1mm in length).[2] Their bodies are narrow, and are four times as long as they are wide.[2] They are often a yellowish-brown in color.[2]

Ecology

Members of the group have primarily been found in leaf litter or in rotting wood, but some has have also been found in fungal fruiting bodies or bat guano. The biology of members of this group is essentially unknown.[4]

Taxonomy

Their taxonomic position has long been controversial, originally they were placed in Dermestoidea, before being considered Polyphaga incertae sedis. They were later placed in the Staphylinoidea, which is supported by characters of the wing venation as well as the morphology of the larval galea of the maxillae.[4]

Distribution

Members of this family have been found in Alabama, Florida, South America, Central America, Polynesia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Asia.[2][3]

Taxonomy

References

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