Cremastocheilus opaculus

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Cremastocheilus opaculus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Cetoniinae
Tribe: Cremastocheilini
Genus: Cremastocheilus
Subgenus: Trinodia
Species: C. opaculus
Binomial name
Cremastocheilus opaculus
Horn, 1894

One of about thirty-five species of myrmecophilous Cremastocheilus. The host ant is presumed to be a species in the genus Myrmecocystus.

Identification

Key to Trinodia species

Closely allied to Cremastocheilus spinifer, but with the disc of thorax more sharply divided and differently sculptured. The hind angles of the thorax are not everted. It is also allied to Cremastocheilus planipes, but that has broad thin tibiae. (Horn, 1894) Clypeus strongly carinate at middle; elytra with punctures in the form of elongate scratches; trichome hairs on eye ridge (canthus) and in depression centrad of anterior posterior angles.

Distribution

Arizona (Coconino Co., Black Point, 3 km S. Grey Mountain, G.Alpert), California, Nevada, Utah, and Mexico.

Habitat

Biology

Nomenclature

Type Material: Baja California. Pescadero, no date; described by Horn (1894).


Description

Oblong, black, opaque, dorsum very flat. Clypeus strongly carinate at middle. Disc of thorax sharply divided into three regions, anterior angles auriulate, the posterior spiniform, sides arcuate, sinuately narrowing to the hind angles, base sinuate within the angles, disc coarsely punctured, the outer lobes more coarsely and closely, the central portion more sparsely and more opaque. Elytra flat with punctures in the form of elongate scratches on the disc, but decidedly punctiform at the sides. Body beneath shining with coarse sparse punctures. Legs slender. Mentum entire. Length, .44 inch; 11 mm. (Horn, 1894)

References

  • Alpert, Gary D. 1994. A Comparative Study of the Symbiotic Relationship Between Beetles of the Genus Cremastocheilus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and their Host Ants (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). Sociobiology 25(1).