Home
How to use the Keys
How to tell if your
beetle is a dung
beetle
References
Glossary
The importance of
Dung Beetles
Acknowledgements
Thyregis relictus
Distribution
Restricted to the Dorrigo area, New South Wales, in dense forest of the escarpment.
Description
Total length 9-11mm.
Head: Clypeal margin with two distinct teeth, clypeal surface with a deep transverse median depression, which is smooth and impunctate. Frontoclypeal suture of major male with a transverse ridge raised laterally into a pair of small hornlike processes. Minor male with a simple transverse keel.
Pronotum: Strongly convex, very finely punctate except around edges, where punctures are larger and elongated.
Pterothorax: Mesosternum covered with large annular punctures, except for a small posteromedian area, which is smooth.
Elytra: Striae with very small, indistinct punctures. Length of elytra more than twice the length of the pronotum.
Hind wings: Fully developed.
Legs: Femora with fine to moderate punctures. Distal edges of middle and hind tibiae strongly scalloped.
Abdomen: Last sternite with punctures set in a pair of shallow transverse depressions.
Sexual dimorphism
Female: Clypeal surface without depression, entirely wrinkled. Frontoclypeal ridge lower, with three tubercles. Last abdominal sternite without depressions and punctures extended across midline.
References
Matthews, E.G. (1976) A revision of the Scarabaeine dung beetles of Australia. III. Tribe Coprini. Aust. J. Zool. Suppl. Ser. 38: 1-52
Copyright © Australian Museum 2016
Authors: Rebecca Harris & Dr. Chris Reid