Aptenocanthon rossi description

Dung
Beetles
of eastern NSW

Home
How to use the Keys
How to tell if your
beetle is a dung
beetle
References
Glossary
The importance of
Dung Beetles
Acknowledgements

Aptenocanthon rossi

Distribution
Known only from near Mt. Wilson and Mount Irvine in the Blue Mountains and Jenolan, New South Wales.

Description
Total length 4.2mm. Colour reddish-brown.

Head: Clypeal teeth small, rounded, separated by a U-shaped space. Surface glabrous, entirely covered with large, dense punctures forming a reticulate texture. Dorsal parts of eyes extremely small.

Prothorax: Pronotal surface very densely punctate with large punctures, forming a reticulate texture except at base of disc. Surface between punctures smooth and shiny. Glabrous.

Elytra: Striae distinct, slightly impressed, with minute punctures. Intervals convex, shiny. Surface not deflexed outside the 7th striae, but forming a rounded ridge extending the full length of the elytra. Epipleura very wide, flat, gradually narrowing to apices, not sinuate.

Legs: Fore tibiae broadened apically, the distal edge straight, the inner apical angle not produced, bearing an outwardly directed spur. Outer edge of fore tibiae with 3 medium-sixed teeth. Middle and hind tibiae strongly expanded distally. Basal segment of hind tarsus distinctly broader than others.

Abdomen: Pygidium with disc strongly swollen.

Sexual dimorphism
Female: The description above is based on the female - the male is unknown.

Note
This species is very similar to Lepanus illawarrensis and may represent that species.

References
Matthews, E.G. (1974) A revision of the Scarabaeine dung beetles of Australia. II. Tribe Scarabaeini. Aust. J. Zool. Suppl. Ser. 24: 1-211.
Williams, G. A. & Williams, T. (1982) A survey of the Aphodiinae, Hybosorinae and Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from small wet forests of coastal northern New South Wales. Part 1: Nowra to Newcastle. Aust. ent. Mag. 9: 42-48.