Heteroceridae (variegated mud-loving beetles)

The variegated mud-loving beetles (Heteroceridae) are a rather small family of small beetles with fossorial legs and pubescent elytra. They live in self-excavated tunnels on the edge fresh and brackish lakes, rivers and ponds. Heterocerids are known to occur in intertidal sandflats, a rare example of coleopterans in marine habitats. Worldwide some 250 species have been described from all biogeographical realms except the Antarctica, thereof only 15 from Germany. Their determination by photo is impossible.