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Ballucus Gordon and Skelley 2007
Ballucus Gordon and Skelley 2007: 227.
Photo by P. Skelley.
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| Aphodiinae Overview | ||
| Aphodiini Key |
Type species. Aphodius obtusus LeConte 1878, by original designation
Diagnosis. Body length 5.0-8.0 mm, elongate, slightly flattened, golden brown. Head smooth, clypeus broadly rounded each side of median emargination. Pronotum of most species with distinct lateral fringe of setae. Metatibial apical spinules variable.
Distribution. Western USA.
Composition. Ballucus contains 4 species.
Ballucus barri (Gordon 2006: 49) [Aphodius], ID-NEB-USA.
Ballucus bruneaui Gordon and Skelley 2007: 231, ID-USA.
Ballucus obtusus (LeConte 1878: 454) [Aphodius], AZ, NV, UT, WY-USA.
= Aphodius utahensis Robinson 1938: 107.
Ballucus oregonus Gordon and Skelley 2007: 232, OR,WA-USA.
Life History. All known data indicate specimens were taken on sand dunes, or at least very sandy substrate. Members of Ballucus are suspected to be psammophilus detritivores.
Larvae. Unknown.
Status of Classification. Gordon and Skelley (2007) recognized two species groups. The most prominent difference between them is the presence or absence of the lateral pronotal fringe of setae.
References:
Gordon, R. D., and P. E. Skelley. 2007. A monograph of the Aphodiini inhabiting the United States and Canada (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 79: 580 pp.
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| Author: Paul Skelley Generated on: 28/APR/08.....Last modified: 28/APR/08 University of Nebraska State Museum - Division of Entomology |