| Phoberus fumarius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Trogidae |
| Subfamily: | Troginae |
| Genus: | Phoberus |
| Species: | P. fumarius |
| Binomial name | |
| Phoberus fumarius | |
Phoberus fumarius is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by Erwin Haaf in 1953. [2] [3]
Taxonomically, P. fumarius was initially placed in the subgenus Trox (Phoberus). Because P. fumarius is extremely similar to Phoberus cyrtus, and because P. fumarius was described from only 4 individual beetles, the scientific community treated P. fumarius as a synonym of P. cyrtus. When Phoberus was recognized as a full genus, taxonomists moved P. cyrtus, and the synonym P. fumarius along with it, from the genus Trox to the genus Phoberus. Cutting-edge beetle cleaning techniques allowed coleopterologists Strümpher and Stals to discern important anatomical differences between P. fumarius and P. cyrtus, reinstating the former as a distinct species. [4]
Within the genus, P. fumarius is most similar to P. cyrtus and P. sulcatus, and researchers have often confused the three species for each other. Carefully inspecting the hide beetles' male genitalia suffices to distinguish the three species. The male genitalia of P. fumarius male genitalia finish at a rounded apex and have broad median lobes, while the male genitalia of P. cyrtus have narrow median lobes that finish at an angular apex. Furthermore, the median lobe of P. sulcatus is divided into two curved sublobes, a feature found in neither P. fumarius nor P. cyrtus. [4]
Phoberus fumarius is between 13 and 14 millimeters long and 6 and 8 millimeters wide. The elytra, or forewings, of the beetle are fringed laterally with short hair-like setae. Like other hide beetles, this species' elytra are covered under hard carapaces; P. fumarius' exoskeleton on both the elytra and the pronotum is a darkish matt black, with clumps of setae tufts protruding almost like spikes from the carapace. These tufts range in color from an amberish yellow-brown to light rust-brown, and measure less than half a millimeter in height. [4]
P. fumarius has a triangular clypeus, which refers to the shape of the exoskeleton plate covering its head. The beetles' heads also finish at a rounded apex. [4]
P. fumarius has especially long parameres that equal their penis-like aedeagus's length. [4]
P. fumarius lives within the South African provinces of Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. Its known geographic distribution follows the Cape Fold Mountains, a pattern of range seen across many beetle groups in South Africa. It may also be present in Namibia. [4] [3] A versatile species, the beetle has been found at elevations between sea level and 2,000 meters above sea level. Phoberus fumarius does depend heavily on rainfall patterns, and its range is restricted to winter rainfall regions, where it rains primarily during winter months. [4]
This ground-based beetle is a detritivore and survives by consuming keratin from shed, excreted, or rotting animal material. [4]
Trogidae, sometimes called hide beetles, is a family of beetles with a distinctive warty or bumpy appearance. Found worldwide, the family includes about 300 species contained in four or five genera.
Dermestidae are a family of Coleoptera that are commonly referred to as skin beetles. Other common names include larder beetle, hide or leather beetles, carpet beetles, and khapra beetles. There are approximately 500 to 700 species worldwide. They can range in size from 1 to 12 mm. Key characteristics for adults are round oval shaped bodies covered in scales or setae. The usually clubbed antennae fit into deep grooves. The hind femora also fit into recesses of the coxa. Larvae are scarabaeiform and also have setae.
Trox is a genus of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae.
Acanthacaris is a genus of deep-water lobsters. It contains two species, A. caeca and A. tenuimana, and is the only genus in the subfamily Neophoberinae.
Trox scaber is a beetle of the family Trogidae. The 5 to 8 mm long insect is found worldwide, including in Europe, and lives in bird nests.
Acilius sulcatus is a species of water beetle in family Dytiscidae.It is fairly large, with color variation shown throughout its range. Typically it is yellow and black.
Bruchidius siliquastri is a species of bean weevil. It was first found in pods of Cercis siliquastrum in China, and has thence been found in several continents. Its length ranges from 2.8 to 3.7 millimetres. Its body is short and ovate, with a black integument. The apex of its femora and the ventral part of its hind tarsi are reddish. Its vestiture is made of thin and short setae; dorsally setae are a whitish colour, denser on the scutellum. Its pygidium is also covered with setae. Its name is derived from its host plant.
Zaitzevia elongata is a species of riffle beetle which is wingless and flightless. It is found on several of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan in the gravel substrate of streams.
Coelostoma (Holocoelostoma) stultum, is a species of water scavenger beetle widely distributed in Palearctic and Oriental realms from West Pacific towards Indian Ocean, such as China, Taiwan, Andaman Islands, Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mascarene Islands, Nicobar Islands, Oman, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Vietnam.
Coelostoma (Coelostoma) vitalisi, is a species of water scavenger beetle found in China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Orphinus (Picorphinus) guernei, is a species of skin beetle found in Sri Lanka.
Sphegina (Asiosphegina) atrimanus is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae found in Vietnam.
Sphegina (Asiosphegina) carinata is a species of hoverfly in the family Syrphidae found in Kambaiti Pass, Myanmar, a montane forest with swampy areas and streams located 2000 meters above sea level.
Phoberus is a genus of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae. It was initially a subgenus of Trox before taxonomists reorganized it into its own genus. The genus is monophyletic, with all species evolved from a single common ancestor. Most beetle species in the genus live in Africa.
Trox confluens is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae. Within the genus Trox, it is placed in the subgenus Granulitrox. Though this species is disputed, with some taxonomists arguing T. confluens is merely a duplicate of Trox granulipennis, the general consensus is that T. confluens and T. granulipennis are distinct. This beetle lives in Algeria, the Canary Islands, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
Phoberus cyrtus is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by Erwin Haaf in 1953.
Phoberus elmariae is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by the scientists van de Merwe and Scholtz in 2005. Like with many other beetle species, P. elmariae has not been observed again after its discovery, so all knowledge of the species comes from the 16 individual beetles van de Merwe and Scholtz saw during fieldwork.
Phoberus sternbergi is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by the scientists van de Merwe and Scholtz in 2005. Like with many other beetle species, P. sternbergi has not been observed again after its discovery, so all knowledge of the species comes from the 8 individual beetles van de Merwe and Scholtz saw during fieldwork.
Phoberus ngomensis is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by the scientists van de Merwe and Scholtz in 2005. Like with many other beetle species, P. ngomensis has not been observed again after its discovery, so all knowledge of the species comes from the 166 individual beetles van de Merwe and Scholtz saw during fieldwork.
Phoberus disjunctus is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by coleopterologist Werner P. Strümpher in 2016.