Hybosoridae

Erichson, 1847

scavenger scarab beetles, scavenger and pill scarab beetles

Subfamily Guides

Ceratocanthinae(Pill Scarab Beetles)
Hybosorinae(Scavenger Scarab Beetles)
Pachyplectrinae

is a of scarabaeiform beetles comprising over 600 in 78 extant . Members are small (5–7 mm), oval beetles with distinctive bearing a deeply grooved 8th antennomere that houses the 9th and 10th segments. The family was historically recognized as distinct based on unique larval characteristics, particularly the stridulatory of rubbing front legs against the margin. Formerly, the family was merged into Hybosoridae, expanding its constituency.

Germarostes globosus by (c) Cole Shoemaker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cole Shoemaker. Used under a CC-BY license.

Germarostes by (c) Cole Shoemaker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cole Shoemaker. Used under a CC-BY license.

Germarostes by (c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Van Loon. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Hybosoridae: /haɪboʊˈsɔrɪdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

distinguished from similar scarabaeiform by the unique antennal club structure: the 8th antennomere is deeply grooved and houses the reduced 9th and 10th antennomeres. Large and also distinctive. Larvae uniquely identifiable by stridulatory using front legs against the margin, a habit unknown elsewhere in Scarabaeoidea. Members of the Ceratocanthinae (formerly family ) are flightless and capable of conglobation (rolling into a ball).

Images

Distribution

Widely distributed in tropical regions globally. Records from Afrotropical, Indomalayan, Neotropical, Australian, Nearctic, and Palaearctic regions. Specific documented localities include Brazil (Distrito Federal), Argentina, Vietnam (Ninh Binh Province, Ba Be National Park, Hoa Binh), Laos, Thailand, Yunnan Province (China), and Italy (Naples environs for historical Hybosorus hopei records).

Diet

feed on and vertebrate carrion; some have been found in . Larvae have been found in decomposing plant material.

Behavior

Larvae stridulate by rubbing front legs against the margin of the , a habit unique to this . Some members (Ceratocanthinae) are flightless and exhibit body enrollment coaptation (rolling into a ball).

Ecological Role

function as scavengers of carrion; larvae appear to contribute to decomposition of plant material.

Similar Taxa

ScarabaeidaeHistorically treated as within Scarabaeidae; distinguished by unique larval stridulatory and antennal structure
TenebrionidaeHybosorus hopei was mistakenly transferred to Tenebrionidae ( Trachyscelis) due to superficial similarities; true distinguished by scarabaeiform larval and antennal club structure

Misconceptions

The Hybosorus hopei A. , 1844 was long overlooked after being transferred to Tenebrionidae by its original author, creating confusion in Italian beetle records. The was formerly treated as distinct but is now included within as Ceratocanthinae.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Long recognized as distinct based primarily on larval characteristics, treated either as a distinct or as of Scarabaeidae. Constituency greatly expanded with inclusion of former family .

Species Diversity

Over 600 in 78 extant ; includes substantial fossil record from Cretaceous and Jurassic deposits in China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Germany, Dominican amber, and Lebanese amber.