Passalidae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Passalidae
Adult Odontotaenius disjunctus Larva of Odontotaenius disjunctus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea Family: Passalidae Leach, 1815
Diversity
> 500 species
Genera
Mastochilus Odontotaenius Passalus Pharochilus Ptichopus many more

Passalidae is a family of beetles known variously as "bessbugs"^[1], "bess beetles"^[1], "betsy beetles"^[1] or "horned passalus beetles"^[2]. Nearly all of the 500-odd species are tropical; species found in North America are notable for their size, ranging from 20-43 mm, for having a single "horn" on the head, and for a form of social behavior unusual among beetles.

Bodies elongate-cylindrical and black overall; ventral surfaces may be covered with yellow setae. The head is narrower than the thorax, with antennae consisting of 10 antennomeres with a three-segment club. The elytra are elongate with parallel sides, and heavily striated.

They are subsocial (brood caring) beetles living in groups in rotting logs. They care for their young by preparing food for them and helping the larvae construct the pupal case. Both adults and larvae must consume adult feces which have been further digested by microflora for a time; an arrangement that might be described as a sort of external rumen.

In addition, they are also able to produce fourteen acoustical signals, more than many vertebrates. Adults produce the sounds by rubbing the upper surface of the abdomen against the hind wings. The larvae produce the sounds by rubbing the third leg against a striated area on the coxa of the second leg.

While the taxonomy of Nearctic species is well-known (four species in the US, and 90 in Mexico), bess beetles in other parts of the world need further study.

Of North American species, Odontotaenius disjunctus (synonym: Popilius disjunctus) is the familiar bessbug found throughout the eastern US and Canada, while O. floridanus has only been found in Florida on sand hills that used to be islands when Florida was flooded thousands of years ago. Ptichopus angulatus was recently discovered near the border of Mexico in Arizona. Its habitat is south of Colombia and it is commonly associated with the detritus chambers of leafcutter ant nests (Atta spp.). Two other species were reported from Arizona at the beginning of the 20th century, but have not been seen there since that time; they may have been brought from Mexico by a train hauling firewood.

Contents 1 Selected Species 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Selected Species

• Genus Aceraius

Aceraius grandis

• Genus Ceracupes

Ceracupes arrowi

• Genus Chondrocephalus

Chondrocephalus debilis

Chondrocephalus granulifrons

• Genus Cylindrocaulus

Cylindrocaulus patalis

• Genus Heliscus

Heliscus tropicus

• Genus Leptaulax

Leptaulax bicolor

• Genus Odontotaenius

Odontotaenius disjunctus (patent-leather beetle)

Odontotaenius floridanus

Odontotaenius striatopunctatus

• Genus Ogyges

Ogyges laevior

• Genus Oileus

Oileus rimator

• Genus Passalus

Passalus affinis

Passalus caelatus

Passalus elfriedae

Passalus inops

Passalus interruptus

Passalus interstitialis

Passalus jansoni

Passalus latifrons

Passalus pugionifer

Passalus punctatostriatus

Passalus punctiger

Passalus spiniger

Passalus unicornis

• Genus Paxillus

Paxillus leachi

Paxillus pentataphylloides

• Genus Pentalobus

Pentalobus barbatus

• Genus Petrejoides

Petrejoides orizabae

• Genus Popilius

Popilius eclipticus

• Genus Proculus

Proculus burmeisteri

Proculus mniszechi

• Genus Ptichopus

Ptichopus angulatus

• Genus Publius

Publius agassizi

• Genus Spasalus

Spasalus crenatus

• Genus Spurius

Spurius bicornis

• Genus Verres

Verres corticicola

Verres hageni

• Genus Veturius

Veturius transversus

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Jack C. Schuster, "Passalidae", in Ross H. Arnett, Jr. and Michael C. Thomas, American Beetles (CRC Press, 2002), vol. 2
• BugGuide Passalidae

[edit] External links