Neochodaeus praesidii
(Bates, 1887)
Neochodaeus praesidii is a sand-loving scarab beetle in the Ochodaeidae, first described by Bates in 1887. It belongs to a family of beetles adapted to sandy . The occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Neochodaeus praesidii: //ni.oʊˈkoʊ.diːəs priˈsɪ.di.aɪ//
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Identification
Members of the Neochodaeus are distinguished from related ochodaeids by their compact, robust body form and clubbed with segments. Specific identification of N. praesidii requires examination of male genitalia and subtle differences in elytral punctation; the is most readily separated from by geographic distribution in combination with morphological characters.
Images
Habitat
Sandy soils in arid and semi-arid environments, including dunes and sandy washes.
Distribution
Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora).
Similar Taxa
- Neochodaeus americanusOverlaps in range and ; distinguished by subtle differences in male genitalia and elytral .
- Other Ochodaeidae generaNeochodaeus is distinguished by its compact body and specific antennal club structure; other tend to be more elongate or have different antennal proportions.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described by Henry Walter Bates in 1887, this has remained in the Neochodaeus since its description. The Ochodaeidae was historically treated as a of Scarabaeidae but is now recognized as a distinct family within Scarabaeoidea.
Collection records
GBIF records document 14 iNaturalist observations, indicating the is rarely encountered and likely undercollected due to its cryptic habits in sandy substrates.