COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > SCIRTOIDEA > Scirtidae

The Scirtidae family comprises twenty small species, typically around 2.5 to 5.5mm long, that are collectively known as Marsh Beetles due to their association with various wetland habitats. They are mostly short-lived, usually showing from late spring to early summer when they can generally be found on marginal vegetation alongside canals and streams, or in similar wet environments such as marshes, also in damp woodland, particularly in locations that are close to water sources. 

They are taxonomically classified in seven genera; Hydrocyphon, Microcara, Odeles and Prionocyphon each with a single species, Scirtes with two species, Elodes with four, and Contacyphon (formerly Cyphon) with ten.

Whilst I don't expect to photograph many more of these particular beetles due to the rather limited number of wetland locations that I can access, I thought it would be worth spending a bit of time looking at the individual species. When I first started photographing beetles towards the end of 2020, I was content in finding and identifying new species that could be added to the draft version of the website. I knew very little about any of the species, or indeed the families, so I would read whatever information I could find in order to learn and provide a little bit of detail that I could use for these 'family accounts'. And, dare I say, this was the same approach that I was adopting with nearly all the other insects that I was discovering for the first time. However, as time has progressed and my list of observed species has grown, I've come to appreciate the value of looking more closely at the individual species and the likelihood of whether they can be found in my area. This usually results in lots of notes, so when the opportunity arises, such as the inclusion of a new family, I'm now starting to include more information. So, in that respect, here's a bit of specific detail about the species and/or genera.        

Hydrocyphon deflexicollis is a tiny, infrequently recorded, dark, tear-drop shaped species that occurs alongside rivers and fast-flowing streams. Microcara testacea is a widespread and relatively common wetland beetle that superficially resembles members of the Contacyphon genus, but is a tad larger (4.5-5.5mm) with a slightly more elongate shape. Odeles marginata is reasonably distinctive, having a dark head, a yellowish-brown thorax with a dark dorsal mark and dirty yellow elytra. It's regarded as a locally common species, which unfortunately is rarely recorded in my area. Prionocyphon serricornis is a variably sized (2.5-5mm) reddish-yellow, southern woodland beetle, which has serrate antennae with the first segment strongly thickened. I think this is one of just a few species that could be found locally and identified from photos.

The two Scirtes species are easily distinguished as they have a shortened, almost round convex body, and enlarged hind femora that allows them to jump in a not dissimilar manner to flea beetles. The very dark, almost black Scirtes hemisphaericus is widespread and quite well-recorded from some areas, whereas the paler, dark brownish-orange Scirtes orbicularis is a rare, primarily southern and eastern species.

Elodes are more elongate with narrow, almost parallel-sided elytra, and a reasonably uniform yellowish-brown colouration that combined with the third antennal segment being smaller than the second should prove sufficient detail to determine the genus, however reliable identification to species is only possible in males by examination of the eighth tergite. Elodes minuta is the most common and, despite its name, is slightly the larger of the four species and actually one of the largest members of the family with some individuals growing to 6mm. Despite the problems with identification, Elodes elongatus and Elodes pseudominutes are also occasionally recorded; the former mainly from central and eastern areas, the latter more widespread.

Although five or six of the ten listed Contacyphon species are comparatively well-recorded, they are all rather similar and, given variation in both size and colour, are generally regarded as difficult to reliably identify. The two possible exceptions are Contacyphon coarctatus, which is actually the most frequently recorded member of the family, and Contacyphon palustris, which is far less common according to the records on the NBN Atlas database.

Contacyphon coarctatus averages around 3.5-4mm long and has a dark reddish-brown colouration, elytra with reasonably defined punctures and a couple of feint ridges, and antennae with segments 1-3 pale orangish and segment three somewhat shorter than the second. Contacyphon palustris is very similar, but distinguishable due to subtle differences in the structure of the antennae and the fact that the elytra are more finely and more densely punctured. Looking at the remaining species, Contacyphon hilaris and Contacyphon padi particularly, but also Contatacyphon laevipennis and Contacyphon variabilis are regularly recorded. The first two are the most frequently recorded species locally, so would need to be considered but, from everything I've read, I can't see how they can be distinguished from photos.

New family added, Jan.25 (v.1)