Clambidae

Definition

A family of minute beetles (Coleoptera) characterized by reduced wing venation with fringed margins and compact, somewhat humpbacked bodies. Members are typically 0.5–2 mm in length and occur in diverse microhabitats including leaf litter, decaying vegetation, fungi, and bird nests. The family is cosmopolitan except for Antarctica, with approximately 150 described species in five genera. Clambidae are often classified in the superfamily Staphylinoidea or, in some treatments, as a distinct lineage near the base of Polyphaga.

Etymology

Example

Specimens of the genus Clambus, the most diverse in Clambidae, are frequently collected in Berlese funnel extractions of forest floor litter and are recognized by their distinctive fringed hindwings and compact, oval body form.

Synonyms

• minute beetles
• fringe-winged beetles

Related Terms

• Coleoptera
• Staphylinoidea
• Polyphaga
• microcoleoptera
• Berlese funnel
• leaf litter fauna

Usage Notes

The common names 'minute beetles' and 'fringe-winged beetles' are shared with other small beetle families (notably Ptiliidae, also called feather-winged beetles), so specialists generally prefer the family name Clambidae for unambiguous reference. The family's phylogenetic position has been unstable; recent molecular studies have questioned its traditional placement in Staphylinoidea.