Leptinus

Müller, P.W.J., 1817

mammal nest beetles, mouse nest beetles

Species Guides

3

Leptinus is a of small beetles commonly known as mammal nest beetles or mouse nest beetles. These beetles are facultative of small mammals, with distributed across North America and Europe. The genus contains at least nine species globally, with three described species in North America.

Leptinus occidentamericanus by Collectors Jill Stockbridge, S. Meierotto, I. MacDougall Preparator Sayde Ridling. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Leptinus: //ˈlɛptɪnəs//

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

Images

Habitat

Found in nests of small mammals, where they live among nest materials and debris.

Distribution

North America (central and western United States, Alaska, Yukon, and areas east of the Mississippi River); Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden).

Seasonality

Activity varies by : Leptinus orientamericanus occurs during fall and winter months; Leptinus occidentamericanus occurs during spring and fall months; Leptinus testaceus shows peak during spring and summer.

Host Associations

  • Blarina brevicauda - most frequent for Leptinus orientamericanus
  • Scalopus aquaticus - for Leptinus orientamericanus
  • Sorex trowbridgii - most frequent for Leptinus occidentamericanus
  • Apodemus sylvaticus - most frequently infested for Leptinus testaceus
  • Clethrionomys glareolus - for Leptinus testaceus
  • Microtus agrestis - for Leptinus testaceus
  • small mammals - 18 of small mammals documented as in North America

Behavior

Facultative ectoparasitism of small mammals; inhabits mammal nests and attaches to fur.

Ecological Role

of small mammals; may play a role in nest dynamics.

Tags

Sources and further reading