Rhyssemus californicus

Horn, 1871

Rhyssemus californicus is a small scarab beetle in the Scarabaeidae, Aphodiinae. It was described by George Henry Horn in 1871 and is native to western North America. The belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, which contains dung beetles often associated with sandy or psammophilous .

Rhyssemus californicus by no rights reserved, uploaded by Robbie Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Rhyssemus californicus: /ˈrɪsɛmʊs kæləˈfɔrnɪkəs/

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Identification

Members of the Rhyssemus are small, compact scarab beetles. They can be distinguished from other Aphodiinae by their reduced wing venation and often by their association with sandy substrates. Specific diagnostic features for R. californicus relative to are not documented in available sources.

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Distribution

Nearctic region: Canada (Alberta), United States (Arizona, California, Colorado). The is present in western North America.

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Taxonomic placement

Rhyssemus californicus is classified in the tribe Psammodiini, subtribe Rhyssemina within the dung beetle Aphodiinae. This tribe includes small beetles often adapted to sandy environments.