Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Malagoniella (M.) astyanax yucateca (Harold)
Orig. Comb: Megathopa yucateca Harold 1863
Malagoniella astyanax Olivier, 1789
Range
southmost TX (Cameron Co.) / Mex. to C. Amer. -
Map (3)(2)(4)(5)
Malagoniella (M.) astyanax yucateca (Harold) has a very wide distribution in Mexico and Central America, but has been found at isolated points that are often separated by great distances. In this case, it is difficult to attribute this to capture inefficiency (at least for many of the places where it has not been found), given that this is a large and very striking species.
(4) Habitat
Appears to be most often associated with seasonal forests (i.e. those that have a dry season).
(4)Season
Number of compiled Texas collecting events by month:
May (2), June (2), July (1), September (2), October (2).
(2)Food
Malagoniella species are general scavengers of dung and carrion (Halffter & Matthews 1966).
Remarks
First reported for the U.S. by Schaeffer (1905). Six spmns in the TAMUIC
(6)(5)
Spmn coll'ed by C. Cate & M. Quinn in 1995 was the first modern U.S. record in 65 years.
(2)
Texas considers this a SGCN
(7)Print References
Halffter, G. & A. Martínez. 1966. Revision monographic de los Canthonina Americanos (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) (1a. parte). Revista de la Sociedad Mexicana Historia Natural 27: 114-175.
Halffter, G., F.S. Pereira & A. Martinez. 1960. Malathopa astyanax (Olivier) y formas afines (Coleop. Scarab.) Ciencia (Mex.) 20(7-8): 202-204.
Halffter, G. and E.G. Matthews 1966. The natural history of dung beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Folia Entomologica Mexicana 12-14: 1-312.
Padilla-Gil, D.N. & G. Halffter. 2007. Biogeography of the areas and Canthonini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of dry tropical forests in Mesoamerica and Colombia. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (Nueva Serie) 23(1): 73-108.
(4)
Riley, E.G. & J.E. King. 2009. Element record datasheets submitted to Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Wildlife Division, Austin.
(2)
Riley, E.G. & C.S. Wolfe. 2003. An annotated checklist of the Scarabaeoidea of Texas. Southwestern Entomologist, Supplement, no. 26. 37 pp.
(3)
Schaeffer, C. 1905. Some additional new genera and species of Coleoptera found within the limit of the United States. Science Bulletin of the Museum of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, 1(7): 141-179. (
Full Text)
Internet References
Texas Entomology - Mike Quinn, 2008
Type - Scarabaeinae dung beetles
