|
|
|
Psammodius Fallén 1807
Psammodius Fallén 1807: 37.
|
|
|
Psammodius basalis (Mulsant and Rey)
Photo by Paul Skelley. |
|
Classification |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Type species. Scarabaeus asper Fabricius 1775: 20, by subsequent designation (= Aphodius sulcicollis Illiger 1801: 20).
= Psammobius Heer 1841: 531.Type species: Aphodius
sulcicollis Illiger 1801, by subsequent designation.
|
|
|
|
|
Diagnosis. Body length 3.0-4.0 mm, elongate to weakly globose, reddish-brown to almost black, dorsal surfaces glabrous, with lateral fringe of setae at least on pronotum. Head surface coarsely granulate, frontal suture indistinct, vertex with 1-2 pair V-shaped ridges. Clypeus rounded each side of median emargination. Pronotum with distinct set of 4 transverse grooves and 5 ridges. Elytral base finely margined; intervals moderately convex. Metafemur robust. Metatibia weakly curved, widened at apex. Metatarsi shortened; basal metatarsomere triangular. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution. Africa, Palearctic to Oriental region, northeastern North America (introduced). |
|
|
Composition. Worldwide, Psammodius contains 20 species, 3 of which are introduced in the New World.
Psammodius basalis (Mulsant and Rey 1869: 636) [Psammobius], Europe, NE-USA (introduced).
Psammodius laevipennis Costa 1844: 18, Europe, NE-USA (introduced).
= Psammodius aegialioides Haldeman 1848: 107.
= Psammodius ciliatus Kuster 1849: 51.
= Psammodius rugicollis Erichson 1848: 916.
= Psammodius scutellaris Mulsant and Wachanru 1859: 187.
Psammodius pierotti Pittino 1979: 598, Europe, western Asia, NE-USA (introduced).
= Aphodius sulcicollis Illiger 1801: 20, of authors [not
Psammodius asper (Fab. 1775)]. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life History. In North America, Psammodius were possibly introduced in ships ballast. Kim and Lumaret (1981) discuss the biology for the related P. porcicollis (Illiger) in Europe. |
|
|
|
Larvae. The larvae of P. pierotti was described by Medvedev (1952). |
|
References:
Cartwright, O. L. 1955. Scarab beetles of the genus Psammodius in the Western Hemisphere. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 104(3344): 413-462.
Kim, J. I., and J. P. Lumaret. 1981. Ecologie de Psammodius porcicollis (Ill.) (Col., Aphodiidae), insecte sabulicole des dunes littorales du Golfe du Lion. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France 17: 449‑462.
Medvedev, S. I. 1952. Larvae of scarabaeid beetles of the fauna of the U.S.S.R. Opredeliteli po Fauna U.S.S.R. Moscow 47: 1-242
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Author: Paul Skelley
Generated on: 09/MAY/08.....Last
modified: 09/MAY/08
University of Nebraska State Museum - Division of Entomology |
|