Baranowskiella ehnstromi

Baranowskiella ehnstromi is the smallest known beetle in Europe.[1] It lives only in the pores of the bracket fungus Phellinus conchatus, which grows on Salix caprea,[2] and Phellinus punctatus, which grows on various deciduous trees.[1] Its length is ca. 0.45–0.55 millimetres (0.018–0.022 in) and its width about 0.1 millimetres (0.0039 in).[2]

Baranowskiella ehnstromi
Scientific classification
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B. ehnstromi
Binomial name
Baranowskiella ehnstromi
Sörensson, 1997

The beetle has been observed in Sweden, Finland, Austria,[2] Norway,[1] and the Czech Republic.[3] It was first described, along with the whole genus Baranowskiella, in 1997 by Ptiliidae specialist Mikael Sörensson and named after entomologists Rickard Baranowski and Bengt Ehnström. The beetle has a simple sound producing organ. It can fly and its diet consists of fungi spores.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Andersen, J.; Hanssen, O. & Ødegaard, F. (2003). "Baranowskiella ehnstromi Sörensson, 1997 (Coleoptera, Ptiliidae), the smallest known beetle in Europe, recorded in Norway" (PDF). Norwegian Journal of Entomology. 50 (2): 139–144. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Kleinster Käfer Europas erstmals in Österreich beobachtet". Der Standard. 18 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Nejmenší brouk v Evropě žije i v Česku. Objevil ho houbař". iDnes. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.