Aidophus parcus
(Horn, 1887)
Aidophus parcus is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Horn in 1887. It is one of the few in the Aidophus, a group of dung beetles in the Scarabaeidae. The species is distributed across a broad swathe of central and eastern North America, with records from the Great Plains to the Atlantic seaboard. As an aphodiine, it is likely associated with decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Aidophus parcus: /ˈaɪ.doʊ.fəs ˈpɑːr.kəs/
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Distribution
Recorded from the United States: Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. The occupies a broad east-central and south-central range within the Nearctic region.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
The Aidophus belongs to the subtribe Didactyliina within the tribe Aphodiini. Members of this subtribe are characterized by reduced with two visible tarsal claws on the forelegs, a trait reflected in the subtribe name.
Data Limitations
Despite being described in 1887, Aidophus parcus remains poorly studied. The 16 iNaturalist observations suggest it is infrequently encountered or underreported, possibly due to its small size and cryptic habits.