Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae) » Deltochilini » Melanocanthon » Melanocanthon nigricornis
Photo#99328
Dung Beetle - Melanocanthon nigricornis
Copyright © 2007 Charles Schurch Lewallen

Dung Beetle - Melanocanthon nigricornis
Deep Fork Wildlife Refuge, Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, USA
March 24, 2007
Size: aprox. 10mm
Contributed by Charles Schurch Lewallen on 24 March, 2007 - 5:33pm
Last updated 25 March, 2007 - 1:19am

Melanocanthon nigricornis (Say)
Nice shot - another sp. for the guide. The small size, quadridentate clypeus - both features found on Canthon (Boreocanthon), but Melanocanthon has a quite distinct habitus - the pronotum is larger and the elytra taper apically - Boreocanthon is more parallel sided. The really diagnostic character - two tibial spurs isn't visible.
… Phillip Harpootlian, 24 March, 2007 - 6:09pm

 
Dung Beetle
Thanks Phillip, I did not think that there was enought detail to get to species.
… Charles Schurch Lewallen, 24 March, 2007 - 7:06pm

 
distribution
I see enough detail for genus, species is based on distribution. This is midwestern sp., only one in OK, extends north to MI, down to TX. The last key to this group differentiated these by the shape of the granules on the dorsum - tough and unreliable. See more details here.
… Phillip Harpootlian, 24 March, 2007 - 7:58pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo