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Termitodius Wasmann 1894
Termitodius Wasmann 1894: 220.
and Martinez
Photo by Paul Skelley.
| Superfamily .... | Scarabaeoidea |
| Family ............ | Scarabaeidae |
| Subfamily ....... | Aphodiinae |
| Tribe .............. | Rhyparini |
Type species. Termitodius coronatus Wasmann 1894: 220, by monotypy.
Diagnosis. Body length 2.9-3.9 mm, elongate, elytra narrowed posteriorly tuberculate apex, dark reddish-brown, often encrusted. Pronotum with longitudinal carinae prominent, anteriorly swollen, bulbous. Carinate elytral intervals lacking tufts of setae at apical end anterior of trichomes. Mesotibia with subapical notch and tooth on inner margin. Metatibia long, narrowed, not flattened, weakly widened at apex.
Distribution. Mexico and northern South America.
Composition. Termitodius contains 3 species.
Termitodius araujoi Reyes-Castillo and Martinez 1979: 120, Mexico.
Termitodius chaki Reyes-Castillo and Martinez 1979: 125, Mexico.
Termitodius coronatus Wasmann 1894: 220, Venezuela.
Life History. Reyes-Castillo and Martinez (1979) report Termitodius spp. to associate with termites (Coptotermes spp.). Larvae live in the sides of the nests.
Larvae. Reyes-Castillo and Martinez (1979) describe larvae for the Mexican species.
References:
Reyes-Castillo, P., and A. Martinez. 1979. Nuevos Rhyparini Neotropicales, con notas sobre su biologia (Coleoptera, Scarabeidae, Aphodiinae). Folia Entomologica Mexicana 41: 115-133.
Skelley, P. E. 2007. Generic limits of the Rhyparini with respect to the genus Termitodius Wasmann, 1894 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae). Insecta Mundi 0009: 1-8.
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| Author: Paul Skelley Generated on: 12/MAY/08.....Last modified: 12/MAY/08 University of Nebraska State Museum - Division of Entomology |