Aglyptinus agathidioides

Last updated

Aglyptinus agathidioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
A. agathidioides
Binomial name
Aglyptinus agathidioides
Blair, 1930

Aglyptinus agathidioides, commonly known as Potters Bar beetle, is a cryptic, poorly known beetle from the family Leiodidae. It is only known by two specimens discovered near Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, England, in 1912.

Contents

The two individuals, a male (holotype) and female (paratype), were collected in a common moorhen nest near Potters Bar on April 14, 1912 by amateur coleopterologist E. C. Bedwell. [1] The male was presented to the Natural History Museum, the female stayed in Bedwell's collection which is now housed in the Norwich Castle Museum.

Description

Measurements are only known from the holotype. It has a length of 1 mm. Its overall appearance is ovate, very convex, and nitid. The upperside is pitchy black. The sides and the lateral portions of the base of the thorax are testaceous. The underside, including the mouth, the elytra, the legs and the antennae are testaceous. The antennae are 11-jointed. The tarsi are slender and 3-jointed. The femora are wide and flattened.

Provenance and conservation status

Both the provenance and the conservation status of this beetle are uncertain. While some experts, including the blogger and ornithologist Mark Avery or the biologist Justin Gerlach [2] state that it might be an extinct beetle from the British Isles, others like the entomologist Jonathan Cooter regarded it as unintentional introduction. [3] Aglyptinus is a genus which is widely distributed in Central America, and Aglyptinus agathidioides has in particular similarities to Aglyptinus minor from Guatemala. But neither intensive searches in England, particularly in mute swan and moorhen nests in Hertfordshire nor interviews with American entomologists have resulted in the rediscovery of this species.

Related Research Articles

Common moorhen Species of bird

The common moorhen, also known as the waterhen or swamp chicken, is a bird species in the rail family (Rallidae). It is distributed across many parts of the Old World.

Norman Humbert Joy was a British ornithologist and coleopterist.

Myrmecia inquilina is a species of ant endemic to Australia in the subfamily Myrmeciinae, first discovered in 1955 and described by Athol Douglas and William Brown Jr. in 1959. These ants are large, measuring 21.4 millimetres (0.84 in). During the time of its discovery, Douglas and Brown announced M. inquilina as the first social parasite among the primitive subfamilies, and today it is one of the two known Myrmecia species to have no worker caste. Two host species are known, Myrmecia nigriceps and Myrmecia vindex. Aggression between M. inquilina and its host species does not occur, and colonies may only produce M. inquilina brood months after the inquiline queens begin to lay their eggs. Queens eat the colony brood or trophic eggs, and other Myrmecia species may kill M. inquilina queens if they reject them. Due to its restricted distribution and threats to its habitat, the ant is "vulnerable" according to the IUCN Red List.

<i>Ancistrocerus gazella</i>

The European potter wasp or European tube wasp is a species of potter wasp. As an imago (adult), the female collects as many as 20 caterpillars for each nest, which consists of a single cell. Her larval offspring then feed on these inside the nest, which is sealed with mud arranged by her. As adults, they eat nectar and aphid honeydew. Males cannot sting, and the sting of a female is not painful. They can be found on windows, foraging for nectar on flowers, or searching out small cracks or holes in which to nest.

Neocorynura electra is an extinct species of sweat bee in the Halictidae genus Neocorynura.

Syndesus ambericus is an extinct species of stag beetles in the subfamily Syndesinae known from a single possibly Miocene fossil found on Hispaniola. S. ambericus is the first species of stag beetle to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of four species from amber, and the only stag beetle species known from the Caribbean.

Anthophorula (Anthophorula) persephone is an extinct species of bee in the subfamily Apinae known from a pair of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. persephone is the first species of the bee tribe Exomalopsini to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is the only species of Anthophorula found in the West Indies.

<i>Haidoterminus</i> Extinct genus of ants

Haidoterminus is an extinct genus of ant in the Formicidae subfamily Haidomyrmecinae, and is one of only nine genera placed in this subfamily. The genus contains a single described species Haidoterminus cippus and is known from one Late Cretaceous fossil which has been found in North America.

<i>Burmomyrma</i> Genus of ants

Burmomyrma is an extinct genus of ant-mimic wasp in the extinct family Falsiformicidae. The genus contains a single described species, Burmomyrma rossi. Burmomyrma is known from a single Middle Cretaceous fossil which was found in Asia.

<i>Acropyga glaesaria</i> Extinct species of ant

Acropyga glaesaria is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from a group of possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. glaesaria is the first species of the ant genus Acropyga to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is the one of several species of Acropyga found in the West Indies. As with other members of the genus, A. glaesaria was most likely trophobiotic.

Acanthognathus poinari is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a single possibly Miocene fossil found on Hispaniola. A. poinari is the first species of the ant genus Acanthognathus to have been described from fossils found in Dominican amber and is one of several species of Acanthognathus found in the Greater Antillies.

Psylliodes luridipennis, commonly known as the Lundy cabbage flea beetle or the bronze Lundy cabbage flea beetle, is a species of flea beetle endemic to the island of Lundy, where it lives and feeds upon the endemic Lundy cabbage. Along with the true weevil Ceutorhynchus contractus var. pallipes and an undescribed race of flea beetle Psylliodes napi, it is known only from the Lundy cabbage. The species was first recorded by Thomas Vernon Wollaston in the 1840s, and was named by the Austrian entomologist Franz Kutschera in 1864.

<i>Azteca alpha</i> Species of ant

Azteca alpha is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Dolichoderinae known from possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. A. alpha is one of only two species in the genus Azteca to have been described from fossils, both found in Dominican amber. It is the host for a fossil nematode, and has been preserved with scale insects.

<i>Zatania electra</i> Extinct species of ant

Zatania electra is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Formicinae known from three possibly Miocene fossils found on Hispaniola. Z. electra is one of several Zatania species found in the Greater Antilles.

Dicromantispa moronei is an extinct species of mantidfly in the neuropteran family Mantispidae known from a fossil found in the Caribbean.

<i>Elephantomyia longirostris</i>

Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) longirostris is an extinct species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae. The species is solely known from the Middle Eocene Baltic amber deposits in the Baltic Sea region of Europe. The species is one of six in its genus described from Baltic amber.

<i>Elephantomyia pulchella</i>

Elephantomyia (Elephantomyia) pulchella is an extinct species of crane fly in the family Limoniidae. The species is solely known from the Middle Eocene Baltic amber deposits in the Baltic Sea region of Europe. The species is one of six described from Baltic amber.

<i>Gyaclavator</i>

Gyaclavator is an extinct genus of lace bug in the family Tingidae known from a fossil found in North America. The genus contains a single species, Gyaclavator kohlsi.

<i>Xylophilus luniger</i>

Xylophilus luniger is a beetle that is endemic to New Zealand. This member of the family Aderidae is commonly collected by beating vegetation around the margins of native forest. The species has been collected in the North Island only.

<i>Clanoptilus barnevillei</i>

Clanoptilus barnevillei is a species of beetles belonging to the family Melyridae, the soft-winged flower beetles.

References

  1. Blair K.G. 1930: Aglyptinus agathidioides sp. n. (fam. Silphidae), a new British beetle. The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 66: 7–8.
  2. Gerlach J. 2014: Extinct animals of the British Isles. p 80. Lulu Press, ISBN   978-1326086039.
  3. J. Cooter (1996): Annotated keys to the British Leiodinae (Col., Leiodidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 132: 205-272.