Feather-winged beetles
Click to enlarge image
Featherwing Beetle. CBCR Pilbara Biodiversity Project Coleoptera voucher specimens
Image: Scott Ginn
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Ptinella
- Family
- Ptiliidae
- Super Family
- Staphylinoidea
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 0.4 mm - 1 mm
Introduction
The feather-winged beetles are the smallest of all beetles and possibly of all insects.
Identification
Feather-winged beetles are distinguished by their feather-like wings.
Habitat
Feather-winged beetles live in forests and woodlands and heath.
Distribution
Feather-winged beetles are found in eastern Australia.
Feeding and diet
Most species of feather-winged beetles feed on fungi.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Some feather-winged beetles are blind and most live under bark in forests and woodland. Not surprisingly they go unnoticed.
Danger to humans
Tiny beetles like this are usually the cause of cyclists' 'fly-in-the-eye' condition. Most flies have no problems avoiding humans but some slow-flying beetles get caught. Cyclists sometimes get them stuck in their eyes, especially in the evening when most beetle dispersal occurs.
