Genus Scarites

S. patruelis (=S. subterraneus patruelis)

S. quadriceps (=substriatus)

S. subterraneus (=californicus)

Author of genus is Fabricius, 1775. Possibly related to Latin (from Greek?) scarus, a type of fish, the Mediterranean Parrotfish, Sparasoma cretensis (prominent jaws, like the beetle?). Alternatively, possibly related to Latin scariosus, meaning, in botany, dry and membranous (1), (Internet searches). Blatchley (2) says that Scarites is from Latin, meaning scratched, but the words for "scratched" have an "f" (or ph in the Greek equivalents). One more possible root is Greek, scari(s), meaning "a little worm" (1).

Arnett (3) gives three species in genus.

Nearctica.com lists six species.

body length 14-30 mm

The two most widespread members S. subterraneus and S. quadriceps are shiny black with large mandibles and two large depressions on the head; elytra grooved, separated from smooth pronotum by narrow "waist" (peduncle). Besides differences in antennomere shape as noted in key below, these two common species can usually be distinguished by size: most subterraneus body length < 21 mm & elytron < 10 mm vs most quadriceps body length > 21 mm & elytron > 10 mm. Elytron length is the more reliable separator. Previously reported distinctions based on various external morphologies (protibial denticles, mandibles, body proportions) tend to be unstable and therefore unreliable.

The following Provisional key to North American species of Scarites is based both on personal observations by compiler Peter Messer and a consolidation of the rather limited species accounts scattered in mostly the English literature. The compiler is unaware of any recent complete review/revision of North American Scarites which in the past has been a challenging group to taxonomists. Scarites is in need of serious revision founded on comparative genitalic and DNA studies. Some have speculated that many of the described species may eventually end up as subspecies of Scarites subterraneus -- reminiscent of the familiar struggle between taxonomic lumper vs splitter. Check for periodic updates of this section dated 2009-vii-26.

Antennomeres roundish ==> subterraneus complex

Antennomeres elongated ==> quadriceps complex

quadriceps complex:

Elytra striae well developed; body length 22 - 30 mm; Range: entire eastern half of USA and ON ==> S. quadriceps Chaudoir, 1843 [synonyms: S. substriatus, S. californicus]

Elytra striae indistinct, especially vanished laterally; large: body length ~ 24 mm; Range: KS, NM, OK, TX ==> S. lissopterus Chaudoir, 1880:p93

Eltra striae distinct but weakly impressed; small: body length 13 - 16 mm; Range: TX ==> S. texanus Chaudoir, 1880:p94

subterraneus complex after Nichols (Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash 88(2), 1986, pp 257-264):

Metasternum & metepisternum shortened; membranous wings reduced; eyes somewhat smaller; small body size (elytron < 7.5 mm); Range: FL ==> S. ocalensis Nichols, 1986

Metasternum & metepisternum long; membranous wings various; eyes not reduced; small to moderate body size (elytron usually > 7.5 mm); Range: FL and elsewhere ==> below

Setigerous puncture on proximal elytral interval #3 absent; elytral striae very finely impressed with minute punctures; membranous wings reduced; Range: sea beaches of Gulf Coast ==> S. marinus Nichols, 1986

Setigerous puncture on proximal elytral interval #3 present; elytral striae fine to mostly well impressed, always lacking minute punctures; membranous wings full; Range: most of USA and ON, not far northwest, usually not beaches ==> S. subterraneus Fabricius, 1775

[S. patruelis LeConte limited to FL, GA may be considered to be subspecies S. subterraneus patruelis.]

Ref: Chaudoir, M. de. 1880. Monographie des scaritides (Scaritini). Deuxieme partie. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique 23: 5 - 130.

Ontario and most of United States except northwestern states.

Also represented in Mexico, Cuba, Eurasia, India, Madagascar, others?

S. lissopterus - KS, NM, OK, TX

S. marinus - FL to LA

S. ocalensis - FL only

S. patruelis - GA, FL

S. quadriceps - eastern US plus Ontario: NJ to FL to TX to SD to ON

S. subterraneus - Ontario and most of US except northwestern states

fields, gardens, agricultural areas

spring and summer

adults are nocturnal predators on other insects

There has been a lot of shuffling in and out of this genus and taxonomic changes of species within. Swan and Papp (p. 347) say "The few American forms of Scarites may all be subspecies of subterraneus." (4)

Scarites is related to Pasimachus and to Clivina. These are sometimes called "pedunculate ground beetles". (5)

Stag beetles of genus Platycerus are superficially similar. Note clubbed antennae of Platycerus versus thread-like, or beaded, antennae of Scarites:

NCSU Entomology collection lists two species for North Carolina: S. quadriceps (42 pinned) and subterraneus (143 pinned).

distribution and synonyms of 5 of the 6 North American species (Michael Thomas, Florida State Collection of Arthropods)