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Platytomus Mulsant, 1842
Platytomus Mulsant, 1842: 310.
Platytomus micros (Bates)
Photo by Paul Skelley.
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| Aphodiinae Overview | ||
| Psammodiini Key |
Type species: Platytomus sabulosus Mulsant, 1842 by monotypy.
Diagnosis: Body small, weakly parallel-sided, nearly cylindrical. Clypeus distinctly granulate, not dentate. Eyes normally developed. Elytral intervals margined at base. Metafemur weakly swollen. Metatarsus usually shortened.
Remarks: Platytomus is widespread in the northern hemisphere. Members are among the smallest scarabs in the New World. Some species are readily attracted to light. Other species remain rare in collections, but have been collected by sifting leaf litter. Until Pittino and Mariani (1986) raised Platytomus to the generic rank, members of this genus were considered to belong in Pleurophorus. Cartwright (1948, as Pleurophorus) presents the most recent key to species. The genus is in need of revision.
References:
Cartwright, O.L. (1948) The American species of Pleurophorus (Coleopera: Scarabaeidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 74, 131–145.Pittino, R. & Mariani, G. (1986) Revision of the Old World species of the genus Diastictus Muls) and its allies (Platytomus Muls., Pleurophorus Muls., Afrodiastictus n. gen., Bordatius n. gen.) (Coleoptera, Aphodiidae, Psammodiini). Giorale Italiano di Entomologie, 3(12), 1–165.
Excerpt from:
Smith, A. B. T. and P. E. Skelley. 2007. A review of the Aphodiinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of southern South America. Zootaxa 1458: 1-80.
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| Authors: Andrew Smith ( Canadian Museum of Nature) and Paul Skelley (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). Generated on: 08/JAN/08.....Last modified: 08/JAN/08 University of Nebraska State Museum - Division of Entomology |