Micromalthidae Temporal range:
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"Ghost adult" stage of Micromalthus debilis | |
Larval stage of Micromalthus debilis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Suborder: | Archostemata |
Family: | Micromalthidae Barber, 1913 |
Genera | |
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Micromalthidae is an ancient family of small beetles belonging to the suborder Archostemata. The only known living representative is the telephone-pole beetle, Micromalthus debilis. A few extinct species have been described,[3] the oldest being the Late Permian Archaeomalthus synoriacos.[1] It is one of the oldest families of beetles still existing today.[3]
Micromalthus debilis is remarkable for its paedogenetic reproductive strategy which is almost unique in the animal kingdom, with the partial exception of Loricifera,[4] and that could have already evolved in prehistoric Micromalthidae.[2][1]