Chaetarthria nigrella
(LeConte, 1861)
Chaetarthria nigrella is a minute water scavenger beetle in the Hydrophilidae. It is one of the smallest members of its family, typically measuring only 1-2 millimeters in length. The belongs to the Chaetarthriinae, a group of tiny beetles often associated with moist or aquatic microhabitats. Very few observations exist for this species, with only three records documented on iNaturalist, suggesting it is either genuinely rare, undercollected, or difficult to detect due to its minute size.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chaetarthria nigrella: /kaɪˈtɑːrθriə nɪˈɡrɛlə/
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Distribution
Recorded from western North America including British Columbia (Canada), and the U.S. states of California, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.
Similar Taxa
- Chaetarthria seminulumAnother tiny Chaetarthria in the same , requiring microscopic examination for reliable separation
- Other HydrophilidaeMinute size and general hydrophilid body form may cause confusion with other small water scavenger beetles, but Chaetarthriinae are distinguished by reduced or modified mouthparts and other subtle characters visible only under magnification