Alexiidae

Alexiidae
Sphaerosoma pilosum (Panzer, 1793) Size: 1.5 mm.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Superfamily: Coccinelloidea
Family: Alexiidae
Imhoff, 1856
Genus: Sphaerosoma
Stephens, 1832
Synonyms
  • Sphaerosoma Samouelle, 1819 (Nom. Nud.)
  • Alexia Stephens, 1833
  • Hygrotophila Chevrolat in Dejean, 1836
  • Lamprosphaerula Apfelbeck, 1910
  • Neosphaerula Apfelbeck, 1910
  • Arthrosphaerula Apfelbeck, 1915

Alexiidae is a family of beetles. It contains a single genus, Sphaerosoma, formerly included within the family Cerylonidae, with around 50 species which are native to the western Palearctic. Species of Sphaerosoma are very small, around 1 to 2 mm in length rounded beetles with clubbed antennae. They are fungivores, having been observed feeding on mushrooms, and have also been found in leaf litter and on decaying bark.[1]

  1. ^ Ślipinśki, Adam and Tomaszewska, Wioletta. "10.30. Alexiidae Imhoff, 1856". Volume 2 Morphology and Systematics (Elateroidea, Bostrichiformia, Cucujiformia partim), edited by Willy Kükenthal, Richard A.B. Leschen, Rolf G. Beutel and John F. Lawrence, Berlin, New York: De Gruyter, 2011, pp. 432-434.