Melanophthalma americana
(Mannerheim, 1844)
Melanophthalma americana is a of minute brown scavenger beetle in the Latridiidae. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1844 and is native to North America. Like other members of Latridiidae, it is associated with decaying organic matter and fungal . The family is characterized by small size and association with moldy or damp substrates.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Melanophthalma americana: /mɛˌlænɒfˈθælmə əˌmɛrɪˈkeɪnə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Distribution
Canada: British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec.
More Details
Taxonomic placement
The Melanophthalma belongs to the Latridiidae, a group of small beetles commonly known as minute brown scavenger beetles or plaster beetles. This family is distinct from the similarly named Silphidae (carrion beetles), which includes such as Necrophila americana (American carrion beetle) and Nicrophorus americanus (American burying beetle). The name 'americana' appears in multiple unrelated species across different families.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Deerly departed: food for flesh-recycling carrion beetles - Margined carrion beetle, Oiceoptoma noveboracense, and American carrion beetle, Necrophila americana — Bug of the Week
- Unwelcome guests in Hawai’i: American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, German cockroach, Blattella germanica, and Western yellowjacket, Vespula pensylvanica — Bug of the Week
- As a Watershed is Urbanized, Damselflies Show Declines
- Silphidae | Beetles In The Bush
- Explorer or Wallflower? Study Shines Light on Cockroach Personalities
- Botanizing at St. Joe State Park | Beetles In The Bush