Arthrolips misella
Arthrolips misella is a minute beetle in the Corylophidae, commonly known as minute fungus beetles. These beetles are among the smallest of all beetles, with measuring less than 2 millimeters in length. The Arthrolips is characterized by distinctive body form and antennal structure. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Arthrolips misella: //ɑːrˈθroʊ.lɪps mɪˈsɛl.lə//
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Identification
Members of Arthrolips can be distinguished from other Corylophidae by their elongate, somewhat flattened body form and the structure of the antennal club, which appears distinctly segmented. The A. misella is separated from primarily by subtle differences in body proportions, punctation on the , and male genitalia structure; accurate identification requires microscopic examination and comparison with . The 's extremely small size (approximately 1.0–1.5 mm) necessitates use of high magnification for observation.
Distribution
Eastern North America; recorded from the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. Specific locality records are sparse in published literature.
Similar Taxa
- Arthrolips foveataOverlapping geographic range and similar body form; distinguished by deeper elytral punctation and differences in male genitalia
- Other Corylophidae genera (e.g., Corylophus, Orthoperus)Similar minute size and general habitus; Arthrolips differs in having more elongate body and differently structured antennal club