Trogloderus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
Family: Tenebrionidae
Subfamily: Blaptinae
Tribe: Amphidorini
Genus: Trogloderus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trogloderus: /ˌtroʊɡloʊˈdɛrəs/

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Summary

Trogloderus is a genus of darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae, specifically within the tribe Amphidorini, characterized by its unique body sculpture and habitat preferences.

Physical Characteristics

Body roughly sculptured, pronotum tuberculate or roughly punctured; elytron with four sharp costae; tarsi beneath with yellow to castaneus spicules, never with tomentose pads; probasitarsus thickened ventrally near distal margin.

Identification Tips

Look for the tuberculate pronotum and distinct sharp costae on elytra.

Habitat

Dunes and sandy habitats.

Distribution

ID (Idaho), CA (California), AZ (Arizona), UT (Utah) in North America.

Evolution

Trogloderus belongs to the tribe Amphidorini within the subfamily Blaptinae, which previously was part of Tenebrioninae until classification changes in 2021.