Aphodiine dung beetle? - Stenotothorax badipes

Moved

… MJ Paulsen, 15 August, 2008 - 12:28pm

Thanks for the ID, MJ.

In keeping with the learning/teaching function of this site could you offer some anatomical distinctions that went into your determination?

… Jim McClarin, 15 August, 2008 - 8:12pm

Moved

Moved from Aphodius.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 16 October, 2007 - 6:55am

Moved

Moved from Aphodiine Dung Beetles.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 16 August, 2006 - 4:15pm

Sure

Overall, I'd say Ataenius sp. - all black, pronotum with flared edges apically, hind tibia with first tarsomere very long, but I think I see distinct transverse carina on the hind tibia which says Aphodius sp. - will have to look into further. This should be easy to nail down - I'm guessing the fauna in NH is limited.

Do you have this speciman? - if so check the pygidium (pull down to expose the whole); evenly concave (Aphodius) or longitudinally divided (Ataenius).

… Phillip Harpootlian, 21 November, 2005 - 8:20am

Fauna limited

For certain. Only 19 Aphodius and four Ataenius species. I'll make a trip to my attic and see if I have any vouchers in my jumble of dried beetle corpses from that period. If so, I reckon I should soak the specimen before I try any pygidium deflections.

… Jim McClarin, 21 November, 2005 - 5:26pm

Yes,

it appears that I do have these beetles, but I'll need to re-photograph them and compare images to be sure.

… Jim McClarin, 22 November, 2005 - 9:08pm