SPHAERIUSIDAE Author: John F. Lawrence, 2001. Classification Suborder Myxophaga Description Antenae with 11 segments and a 3 segments club. Antennal insertions exposed. Visible portion of procoxa globular with the trochantin at least partly exposed. Procoxal cavity externally open and internally open. Mesocoxae separated by more than 1 coxal width , with mesocoxal cavity laterally open. Tarsal formula 3-3-3. Number of ventrites 3 without ventrites connate. Body length 0.5-1.2 mm. Globular, glabrous, shiny. Large metacoxal plates. Sphaerius. Quick identification Sphaeriusidae includes the single genus Sphaerius, until recently known as Microsporus. They resemble minute clambids or hydrophilids, but may be distinguished by the 3 abdominal ventrites. Adult and larval Sphaerius occur in mud and gravel at stream edges and feed on algae. Genera occurring in Costa Rica Sphaerius. © CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Sphaerius © CSIRO Emtomology, 1999 Derechos Reservados INBio. Copyrights INBio