What is Archostemata?
Q: What is Archostemata?
A: Archostemata is the smallest suborder of beetles with less than fifty known species.
Q: How old is the lineage of Archostemata?
A: Archostemata is an ancient lineage that is similar to the first beetles that appear in the fossil record about 250 million years ago.
Q: What makes Archostemata different from other beetle suborders?
A: Archostemata contains the only paedogenic beetles known as Micromalthus debilis and has a number of primitive characteristics.
Q: Are Micromalthus debilis beetles common or rare?
A: Micromalthus debilis beetles are rare.
Q: Was Archostemata once more common in the past?
A: Yes, fossil deposits from the Permian suggest that Archostemata were once much more common and were widespread over the globe.
Q: What is the significance of Abundant cladistic and fossil evidence?
A: Abundant cladistic and fossil evidence shows that the Archostematans are the basal suborder of true beetles.
Q: How many species of Archostemata are currently known?
A: There are less than fifty known species of Archostemata.
