Cercyon variegatus

Sharp, 1882

Cercyon variegatus is a small water scavenger beetle in the Hydrophilidae, first described by Sharp in 1882. The has a broad distribution across the Americas, ranging from the southeastern United States through Central America to South America. Like other members of the Cercyon, it is associated with moist or aquatic environments where it contributes to decomposition processes. The specific epithet 'variegatus' refers to variable or mottled coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources.

Cercyon (10.3897-zookeys.681.12522) Figure 4 by Arriaga-Varela E, Seidel M, Deler-Hernández A, Senderov V, Fikáček M (2017) A review of the Cercyon Leach (Coleoptera, Hydrophilidae, Sphaeridiinae) of the Greater Antilles. ZooKeys 681: 39-93. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.681.12522. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Georgiy Jacobson - Beetles Russia and Western Europe - plate 10 by see in description. Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cercyon variegatus: /ˈsɛrk.i.ɒn ˌvɛə.riˈeɪɡə.təs/

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Images

Habitat

Moist or aquatic environments; associated with decomposing organic matter in water margins, wetlands, and similar typical of the Cercyon.

Distribution

Southeastern United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas); Mexico; Central America (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama); South America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela); West Indies (recorded in error).

Ecological Role

Member of /decomposer guild in aquatic and semi-aquatic ; contributes to nutrient cycling through processing of decaying organic matter.