Georissus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Hydrophiloidea
Family: Georissidae
Genus: Georissus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Georissus: //dʒiːəˈrɪsəs//

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Summary

Georissus is a genus of minute mud-loving beetles that inhabit wet soils worldwide except for Antarctica. They are small predators that occasionally cover themselves with sand or mud for protection from predators.

Physical Characteristics

Georissus beetles are small, measuring 1–2 mm in length, with a broadly oval body. The outline is more or less interrupted between the pronotum and the elytra. The head and pronotum are granulate, and the prosternum is rudimentary without intercoxal processes. The anterior coxae and trochanters are fused, and the basal ventrite is very large.

Identification Tips

Look for small beetles around 1-2 mm with a broadly oval shape and granulated head and pronotum.

Habitat

Found in wet soil, often near water, including the periphery of rivers and streams, as well as in tropical rainforest leaf litter.

Distribution

Georissus beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Diet

Predatory on invertebrates; exhibit cannibalism under laboratory conditions.

Ecosystem Role

They play a role as predators in their ecosystem, helping to control invertebrate populations.

Evolution

Georissus is the only genus in the family Georissidae and contains about 75 living species. It was previously included in the family Hydrophilidae but recent molecular data indicate it belongs to a clade within the Hydrophiloidea.