Microscydmus lynfieldi is a species of minute beetle belonging to the family Scydmaeninae.[1] First discovered in the Auckland suburb of Lynfield in 1975 and described in 1977, it is endemic to New Zealand. M. lynfieldi is one of the smallest known species of beetle.
| Microscydmus lynfieldi | |
|---|---|
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| Holotype of Microscydmus lynfieldi from the New Zealand Arthropod Collection | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Staphylinidae |
| Genus: | Microscydmus |
| Species: | M. lynfieldi
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| Binomial name | |
| Microscydmus lynfieldi Franz, 1977
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| Synonyms | |
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Taxonomy
editThe species was described by Austrian entomologist Herbert Franz in 1977, based on holotypes collected from decaying māhoe wood by Guillermo Kuschel from the vicinity of the Wairaki Stream / Tropicana Drive in Lynfield, Auckland, New Zealand in 1975.[2] The species was named after its type locality of Lynfield.[2] In 1990, Microscydmus omahutensis, also found at Lynfield and described by Franz in 1977, was synonymised with M. lynfieldi by Kuschel.[3]
Description
editThe species has an average length of 0.55 mm (0.022 in), and is a light reddish brown colour. It is recognisable by its broad head, large eyes and a pronotum of approximate equal length and width.[2]
Distribution
editThe species is endemic to New Zealand.[4] By the 1990s, verified sightings of the species had only been made in Lynfield, Auckland,[3] with an unconfirmed sighting in 2010 at Port Waikato.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Microscydmus lynfieldi Franz, 1977". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ a b c Franz, H. (1977). "Neue Scydmaeniden (Coleoptera) aus Neuseeland, von Samoa den Tonga-Inseln und Cook-Inseln" (PDF). Koleopterologische Rundschau (in German). 53: 15–25. ISSN 0075-6547. Wikidata Q130344952.
- ^ a b Kuschel, G. (1990). Beetles in a suburban environment: A New Zealand case study.: The identity and status of Coleoptera in the natural and modified habitats of Lynfield, Auckland (1974–1989) (PDF). DSIR Plant Protection Report. Vol. 3. ISBN 0-477-02596-X. Wikidata Q120031137.
- ^ "Microscydmus lynfieldi Franz, 1977". New Zealand Organisms Register. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
- ^ Thorpe, S.E. (7 February 2010). "adult Microscydmus, probably M. lynfieldi (body length less than 1 mm)". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
