Phoberus sternbergi | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Trogidae |
Subfamily: | Troginae |
Genus: | Phoberus |
Species: | P. sternbergi |
Binomial name | |
Phoberus sternbergi van der Merwe & Scholtz, 2005 | |
Phoberus sternbergi is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by the scientists van de Merwe and Scholtz in 2005. [1] [2] 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. [3] [2]
Taxonomically, P. sternbergi was initially placed in the subgenus Trox (Phoberus); when Phoberus was recognized as a full genus, taxonomists moved P. sternbergi from the genus Trox to the genus Phoberus. Within the genus Phoberus, P. sternbergi is most similar to P. ngomensis; in fact, females of the two species are almost completely identical, and only the shape of the hide beetles' male genitalia can reliably distinguish the two species. Specifically, in P. sternbergi, the anterior edges of male genitalia's median lobe are M-shaped, while in P. ngomensis those same edges are U-shaped. Furthermore, the parameres of P. sternbergi are longer relative to their penis-like aedeagus than those of P. ngomensis; P. sternbergi's parameres are one-third their aedeagus' length, while the parameres of P. ngomensis are one-fourth that length. [3] [2]
Phoberus sternbergi is between 5.5 and 6.5 millimeters long and 3.2 and 3.6 millimeters wide. The elytra, or forewings, of the beetle have flattened sides and are fringed laterally with short hair-like setae. Like other hide beetles, this species' elytra are covered under hard carapaces; P. sternbergi's exoskeleton shell on the abdomen is dark red and bumpy, with orange spikes. These spikes measure under half a millimeter in height. This hide beetle species' exoskeleton on the head and pronotum is a dark leather-black. [3]
P. sternbergi has a triangular clypeus, which refers to the shape of the exoskeleton plate covering its head. The beetles' heads also finish at a pointed apex. [3]
P. sternbergi lives within the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. A ground-based beetle, the species is a detritivore that probably consumes keratin from rotting meat, as the researchers captured specimen through ten-days-old meat bait. [3]
The Haliplidae are a family of water beetles that swim using an alternating motion of the legs. They are therefore clumsy in water, and prefer to get around by crawling. The family consists of about 200 species in 5 genera, distributed wherever there is freshwater habitat; it is the only extant member of superfamily Haliploidea. They are also known as crawling water beetles or haliplids.
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.
Mecodema oconnori is a large-bodied species of ground beetle that is found mainly on the western regions of the North Island, New Zealand. It is mainly found in native forest habitats, both intact and fragmented, and on the edges of pine plantations. Mecodema oconnori ranges from Otaki, Kapiti Coast to Raglan, but is also found in the Manawatu Gorge and some other eastern localities.
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.
Necrobia violacea is a species of beetle in family Cleridae. Cleridae beetles are a predaceous beetle found within forest and woodland environments, and can be associated with stored food products as both pests and predators of other insects.
Melasis fermini is a rare species of soldier beetles native to a small area of Spain. It has only been found in three locations in Guadalajara, Caceres, and Ciudad Real, and its estimated range is less than twelve square kilometers. The species was named in honor of the late Fermín Martín Piera, a Spanish biologist and taxonomist who specialized in the study of dung beetles.
Dipelicus bidens, is a species of dung beetle native to India and Sri Lanka.
Liatongus rhadamistus, or Scaptodera rhadamistus, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, Laos and Thailand.
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.
Anthrenus ceylonicus, is a species of skin beetle found in Sri Lanka.
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.
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 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 fumarius is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by Erwin Haaf in 1953.
Phoberus disjunctus is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by coleopterologist Werner P. Strümpher in 2016.
Phoberus herminae is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by coleopterologist Werner P. Strümpher in 2016.
Perothops is a genus of false click beetles in the family Eucnemidae containing 3 species. They are known as beech-tree beetles or perothopid beetles. They are small as they are only 10–18 millimeters long. It is the only genus in the monotypic subfamily Perothopinae. They are small, dark-colored beetles that are found across the United States, generally in forests. The genus was discovered by Johann Friedrich von Eschscholtz in 1836. It used to be considered a family not part of Eucnemidae. The genus's name is from Greek, translating to "maimed/crippled eye" or "eye of little necklaces/bands", referring to the placement of perothopid eyes.