Spray-zone-beetles

Guides

• Ochthebius

  minute moss beetles

  Ochthebius is a large genus of minute moss beetles in the family Hydraenidae, comprising at least 460 described species. These tiny beetles are predominantly associated with aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats, particularly supratidal rockpools, coastal marshes, and freshwater spray zones. Many species exhibit narrow habitat preferences and restricted distributions, with numerous endemic taxa. The genus shows significant diversity in the Mediterranean region, Africa, and other parts of the world, and includes several cryptic species complexes.

  Hydraenidaeminute-moss-beetleswater-beetlessupratidal-rockpoolscoastal-habitatscryptic-speciesMediterranean-faunaAfrican-faunamultivoltineendemic-speciesconservationpopulation-geneticshabitat-fragmentationextreme-environmentsspray-zone-beetles