Apocellus sphaericollis
(Say, 1831)
spiny-legged rove beetle
Apocellus sphaericollis is a of rove beetle in the Staphylinidae, Oxytelinae. It is one of the larger species in the Apocellus and has been documented across a broad geographic range spanning North and Central America. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1831. Records indicate it occurs from southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico and Guatemala.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Apocellus sphaericollis: /æpoʊˈsɛləs sfɛrɪˈkɒlɪs/
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Identification
Apocellus sphaericollis can be distinguished from other Apocellus by its relatively large size within the and the characteristic rounded (sphaericollis = "spherical neck") pronotal shape referenced in its specific epithet. As a member of the Oxytelinae, it possesses the 's diagnostic features including spiny legs. Positive identification to species level requires examination of genitalia and comparison with .
Distribution
Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec), United States (Alabama, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina, Virginia), Mexico, and Guatemala.
Similar Taxa
- Other Apocellus speciesSmaller in the same , particularly A. ochropterus and A. hastatus, require careful examination of pronotal shape and male genitalia for separation.