Haeterius ferrugineus

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Haeterius ferrugineus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Beetle
Suborder: Polyphaga
Family: Histeridae
Genus: Haeterius
Species: H. ferrugineus
Binomial name
Haeterius ferrugineus
(Oliver, 1789)

Diagnosis

Among the European fauna adults are distinct and should not be confused with any other species. 1.3-2.0mm. Very broadly-oval, almost continuous in outline and entirely brown to reddish-brown in colour, dorsal surface smooth and rather shiny, pronotum and elytra with sparse erect pale setae. Head widely transverse when viewed from above, weakly convex, smooth and with small transverse eyes, antennae 9-segmented, the basal segment greatly expanded internally, 2-8 gradually widened and the terminal segment forming a large and truncate club. Pronotum very transverse and widest at perpendicular posterior angles, anterior angles rounded and weakly produced, disc evenly convex between paired sub-lateral striae and there is a variable basal depression towards the lateral margin. Elytra transverse and evenly rounded to a continuous apical margin, each with a fine and usually abbreviated sub-humeral stria and three or four striae across the disc that extend almost to the apex, the erect setae arranged in longitudinal rows on or near these striae. Pygidium and propygidium smooth and shiny. Legs long and robust; femora narrow and simple, tibiae flattened and broad; straight internally and strongly angled externally. Tarsi 5-segmented and simple.

Description

Distribution

Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China)

Biology

Ant hosts: Formica fusca, Formica cinerea, Formica rufa

REFERENCES

  • Caterino, M. & Tishechkin, A.K. (2015) Phylogeny and generic limits in the New World Exosternini (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae). Systematic Entomology, 40, 109–142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/syen.12095
  • Olivier, A.G. (1789) Entomologie, ou histoire naturelle des Insectes, avec leurs caracteres génériques et spécifiques, leur description, leur synonymie, et leur figure enluminée. Coléoptères. Vol. 1, nos. 1-8. Baudouin, Paris, ca. 470 pp.