Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Fabricius, 1775. Genus name is New Latin (Fabricius), from Greek, τρωξ, from τρωγειν, gnaw
(1). Greek
trogos apparently referred to a gnawer, weevil--see this
glossary.
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 37 species for North America.
Identification
Oval, brown, gray or black. Associated with hides, carcasses.
Habitat
Found on owl pellets, carrion, etc.
Food
Feed on skin, feathers, etc.
Life Cycle
Associated with bird nests, carrion, etc. Presumably larvae feed on skin, feathers, and the like.
Print References
The Century Dictionary--entry for
Trox (1)
Dillon, pp. 559-565, plate LV
(2)
Harpootlian, pp. 60-65
(3)
Vaurie, P. 1955. A revision of the genus
Trox in North America (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 106(1): l-89.
Full Text (Link to PDF)
Vaurie, P. 1958. New distribution records of North American Trox (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 12: 43-46.
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek--lists as subfamily of Scarabs,
genus Trox.
