trapped on the ice and other organic

debris. Up to 6 mm long, with long limbs

and antennae and no eyes, it shares many

features of morphology and behavior

with cave-dwelling Cholevinae such as

Leptodirus from Europe, although it is not

currently placed in Cholevinae but in one

of the smaller subfamilies, Catopocerinae

Platypsyllus castoris, the only species in

its genus, is found on both the North

American and the European beaver,

which is surprising, because if

the beavers are recognized as two

distinct species, one would expect

the beetles to be too.

opposite | Zearagytodes maculifer

Characteristic larva of this New Zealand

species, which feeds on spores of fungi.

right | Agathidium A typical round

fungus beetle feeds on fungi growing

on a tree stump in Pittsburgh, USA.

above | Catops picipes

This typical European

small carrion beetle feeds

on carrion or inhabits

mammal burrows.