Nanosellinae

Introduction

The subfamily Nanosellinae, tentatively composed of 15 genera and 27 species, is widely distributed throughout the world. The majority of species occur on or within fungi, usually of the Polyporaceae, feeding on fungal spores. Rarely will more than one species inhabit a particular host. Nanosellines are the smallest beetles known, ranging .30-.80 mm in total length.

Characteristics

The presence of contiguous metacoxae, mesosternal process, metasternal lines and dependence on a host fungus help separate Nanosellinae from other subfamilies within the Ptiliidae. Shape of the mesosternal process, length of metasternal lines and antennal segment number and morphology have proven to be useful characters when distinguishing nanoselline genera. As with all members of the Ptiliidae, variation of spermatheca design is critical to distinguish species.

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Variation of nanoselline antennal segments (top to bottom: Throscidium, Nellosana, 'Poropholine', Cylindrosella)

Taxonomic History

The subfamily Nanosellinae was erected within the Ptiliidae by H.S. Barber (1924), based on a suite of morphological characters, plus dependence on fungal spores. Within this subfamily, Barber placed Cylindrosella, Mycophagus, Nanosella, and Throscoptilium.

Matthews (1872) described Throscidium from Chile. This genus is currently considered to be a primitive form of Nanosellinae. Matthews (1900) also described Mikado from Japan, noting its association with a host fungus.

Within Australia and associated geographic regions, Deane (1930, 1931) described Isolumpia, Philagarica and Paratuposa. Though no reference is made to Barber's classification, Deane's descriptions, illustrations and host records allow placement of these taxa within the subfamily.

Dybas (1956) described Porophila, presently the only nanoselline known from the West Coast of the United States. Dybas (1961) also described two genera from the Eastern United States, Hydnosella and Suterina (=Suterella). Both genera are considered to be atypical of the Nanosellinae, since neither is associated with a polypore fungus. Hydnosella has been collected on fungus of the Hydnaceae, while Suterina is found in forest leaf litter.

Johnson (1982) described Nellosana and Kuschelidium from New Zealand. Johnson (1985) also described Kimoda from islands of the Mascarenes, suggesting this genus may be allied to Mikado.

Discussion of Phylogenetic Relationships

As with all groups of featherwing beetles, a phylogenetic analysis of nanoselline relationships currently does not exist. W.E. Hall (University of Arizona) is presently conducting a worldwide systematic revision of the Nanosellinae, and Mikael Sorensson (Zoological Institute, Lund) is performing a phylogenetic analysis of the Ptiliidae as a whole, based at the genus level.

Dybas (1976: 50) questioned the validity of subfamily status of Nanosellinae, noting characters chosen by Barber "do not, in fact, serve to distinguish the group from other Ptiliidae", and may actually justify placement of the group within the Ptiliinae, giving nanosellines tribal ranking. However, Dybas did not propose a new system of classification, and within a recent classification of the Staphyliniformia (Newton and Thayer, 1992), Nanosellinae retains subfamily status.

References

Barber, H.S. 1924. New Ptiliidae related to the smallest known beetle. Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 26 (6): 167-178.

Deane, C. 1930. Trichopterygidae of Australia and Tasmania. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 55: 477-487.

Deane, C. 1931. Trichopterygidae of Australia and Adjacent Islands. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 56: 237-242.

Dybas, H.S. 1980. Suterina Dybas, replacement name for Suterella Dybas, preoccupied (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). Coleopt. Bull. 34:261.

Dybas, H.S. 1976. The larval characters of featherwing and limulodid beetles and their family relationships in the Staphylinoidea (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae and Limulodidae). Fieldiana:Zoology, 70 (3): 29-78.

Dybas, H.S. 1961. Two new genera of feather-wing beetles from the eastern United States. Fieldiana. 44 (2): 11-18.

Dybas, H.S. 1956. A new genus of minute fungus-pore beetles from Oregon. Fieldiana. 34: 441-448.

Johnson, C. 1982. An introduction to the Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) of New Zealand. N.Z. Journ. Zool., 9 : 333-376.

Johnson, C. 1985. Revision of Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) occurring in the Mascarenes, Seychelles and neighboring islands. Entomologica Basiliensia, 10: 159-237.

Matthews, A. 1872. Trichopterygia illustrata et descripta.

Matthews, A. 1900. Trichopterygia illustrata et descripta. Supplement.

Newton, A.F. and M.K. Thayer. 1992. Current classification and family-group names in the staphyliniformia (Coleoptera). Fieldiana:Zoology, n.s., 67: 1-92.