Hister depurator
Say, 1825
clown beetle
Hister depurator is a of clown beetle in the Histeridae, first described by Thomas Say in 1825. It is found in North America, with records from eastern Canada and across much of the United States. Like other hister beetles, it is likely , feeding on small arthropods in decaying organic matter. The species is rarely encountered in collections, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hister depurator: //ˈhɪs.tər dɛp.jʊˈɹeɪ.tɔːr//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Hister depurator can be distinguished from other Hister by its specific combination of morphological characters, though detailed diagnostic features are not well documented in available literature. Members of the Hister are typically small to medium-sized beetles with a compact, oval body form, short that expose the terminal abdominal segments, and distinctly clubbed . Accurate identification to species level requires examination of male genitalia and other subtle morphological characters.
Distribution
Eastern North America. Recorded from Canada (Ontario) and the United States (Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and eastern states generally).
More Details
Taxonomic History
Described by Thomas Say in 1825, one of the earliest American entomologists. The specific epithet 'depurator' (Latin for 'purifier' or 'cleanser') may allude to the ' association with decaying matter.