Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Sphaeridium scarabaeoides

Beetles on Dung - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides In Cowdung - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides Beetle - ? - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides Water Scavenger Beetle? - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides Sphaeridium scarabaeoides DelPuerto-0BG.J.1967.01 - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides small beetle living in fresh cow pie - Sphaeridium scarabaeoides Sphaeridium scarabaeoides
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Staphyliniformia)
Superfamily Hydrophiloidea
Family Hydrophilidae (Water Scavenger Beetles)
Subfamily Sphaeridiinae
Genus Sphaeridium
Species scarabaeoides (Sphaeridium scarabaeoides)
Explanation of Names
Sphaeridium scarabaeoides (Linnaeus)
Numbers
One of four Nearctic species in the genus.
Size
4.0-7.1 mm
Identification
Most similar to S. lunatum. See Berge Henegouwen (1989).
Range
Widely distributed in US and southern Canada; Mexico; native to Palaearctic.
Habitat
Dung, especially cow dung.
Food
Dung.
Remarks
The family is mostly a water-dwelling group, but some species are modified for "swimming" in dung, or otherwise living in relatively moist habitats.
Introduced from Europe.
Print References
(1)
Internet References
Berge Henegouwen, A. van. 1989. Sphaeridium marginatum reinstated as a species distinct from S. bipustulatum (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae). Entomologische berichten 49: 168-170. Link to PDF
Works Cited
1.A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America
Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence. 1961. Row, Peterson, and Company.