Elytral-striae
Guides
Atholus sedecimstriatus
clown beetle
Atholus sedecimstriatus is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Thomas Say in 1825. The species is native to North America and has been documented in both the United States and Canada. It belongs to a genus of small histerid beetles commonly associated with decaying organic matter. The specific epithet 'sedecimstriatus' (Latin for 'sixteen-striped') likely refers to elytral striation patterns characteristic of the species.
Hister
Clown Beetles
Hister is a genus of clown beetles in the family Histeridae, comprising small to medium-sized predatory beetles with distinctive compact, oval bodies and clubbed antennae. Members of this genus are typically shiny black or metallic in coloration and are found in diverse habitats worldwide. The genus is taxonomically significant as the type genus of the family Histeridae, with species identification relying heavily on elytral striae patterns and male genitalia characteristics. Some species exhibit morphological variability in dorsal elytral striae configuration, which has been documented in detail for H. shanghaicus.