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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Staphyliniformia » Staphylinoidea » Rove Beetles (Staphylinidae) » Staphylininae » Staphylinini » Staphylinina » Tasgius » Tasgius melanarius

Species Tasgius melanarius

6017175 Rove beetle - Tasgius melanarius

Tasgius melanarius (?) - Tasgius melanarius

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

No Taxon (Series Staphyliniformia)

Superfamily Staphylinoidea

Family Staphylinidae (Rove Beetles)

Subfamily Staphylininae

Tribe Staphylinini

Subtribe Staphylinina

Genus Tasgius

Species melanarius (Tasgius melanarius)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

=Ocypus melanarius

Explanation of Names

Tasgius melanarius (Heer 1839)

Size

13-20 mm

Identification

Elytra and pronotum of about same length [elytra shorter => see Ocypus nitens];

For both Tasgius melanarius and winkleri versus T. ater:

Head and pronotum only with dull sheen, due to dense punctures of one size (diagnostic);

smooth midline of pronotum often reduced anteriourly;

Mandibles siccle-shaped, bluntly thicker in about middle (subgenus Rayacheila);

Abdomen with only inconspicuous tactile setae; length of setae < 3rd antennal segment;

For safe discrimination of the two species, study of male genitalia recommended.

Not in the books, but useful if seen:

Tip of mandibles sharp in both dorsal, and frontal view, dagger-shaped

(caution: make sure edge of mandible is not worn off; compare alternative condition under winkleri)

Range

native to w. Palaearctic thru C. Asia, adventive in our area (e. Canada, New England to NY, WA)(1)

Habitat

similar to T. ater

Remarks

earliest NA record: QC 1935(1)

Internet References

Species page(2)

Works Cited

1.	Introduced Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in the Maritime Provinces of Canada Majka C.G., Klimaszewski J. 2008. The Canadian Entomologist 140: 48-72.

2.	Staphylinidae of eastern Canada and the adjacent United States. Keys to subfamilies; Staphylininae: ... Brunke A., Newton A., Klimaszewski J., Majka C.G., Marshall S. 2011. CJAI 12: 1‒110.

Contributed by Boris Büche on 23 July, 2007 - 6:37am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, v belov
Last updated 17 March, 2021 - 1:10pm

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