SCARABS “Hvisdet Lugter, Vil De Komme”

Occasional Issue Number 15 Print ISSN 1937-8343 Online ISSN 1937-8351 November, 2004 Scarabs is Back!!! WITHIN THIS ISSUE As If Life Wasn’t Bad Enough....Now This! Bad News...... 1 Okay, so we haven’t published a and coming face to face with the Bug-Proof Clothes...... 2 Scarabs newsletter since Occasional drivel and forced humor within Issue 14, dated October, 1998. these pages. By posting Scarabs on Glorious Art...... 2 We apologize, but we have been the web, distribution is much more Revised Classifification busy. Editor Rich has been busy efficient. Only those foolish enough of the Scarabaeoidea...... 3 chasing Phobetus panamintensis to tempt fate would dare to click and planning construction of his on our file. The PDF file containing Scatalogical Ramblings.. 11 basement bug room. His stint each issue can be printed at will, if Notable Publications...... 15 at a pro wrestling (“El Mierdo”) desired. proved to be short-lived when A Collecting Tip for “The Next Big Thing” threw Rich Thanks go to Scarab Central at Bradycinetulus...... 16 into the crowd, wrenching Rich’s University of Nebraska for hosting back. Editor Barney was tied up for Scarabs on their web page. Pin Labels, Macs and Mi- crosoft Word...... 17 awhile in a house-building project, and is building up a huge supply of Another change is that Scarabs About Scarabs...... 17 his “special bait” while praying that is now in color. To celebrate our airport security does not decide to first color issue, we are including Pins...... 17 open all containers. Editor Bill has artwork of arguably one of the most Plea for Phanaeus...... 18 been busy on the scarab speaking beautiful scarab on the circuit. It was standing room only planet: Chrysina gloriosa. Now, any at the recent meeting of the Ajo slob can photograph this wonderful Entomological Society, where Bill beast and thereby reproduce its spoke on “The Aquatic Scarab iridescent green body and flashing Fauna of the Sonoran Desert Above silver stripes. But to capture its the Timberline.” The Lep people essence in artwork takes real talent EDITORS loved it. — and was superbly handled by a most gifted and longtime Scarabs Rich Cunningham It has been so long since the subscriber. The Editors remain in [email protected] last issue that we have decided his debt for his contribution. It not Barney Streit printing copies, stuffing them into only spruces Scarabs up, but gives barneystreit@hotmail. envelopes and snail mailing them it an air of legitimacy at long last. com to hapless scarab enthusiasts would be improper, if not downright Kindly flip the page (or scroll, as the Bill Warner [email protected] rude. Just imagine a serious scarab case may be) to see our first color taxonomist opening an envelope submission...... ☞ “Love art. Of all lies, it is the least untrue.” Gustave Flaubert

“Plusiotis Gloriosa” Submitted by David Hawks Copyright © 2004

Bug-Proof Clothes

Two sister companies, Orvis (a cleaning allowed. fly-fishing and sporting attire “Clothes make specialist) and Ex Officio (a travel Orvis’ BUZZ OFF garments, the man. Naked clothing company) have introduced mostly all-cotton, include shirts, insect-repellent clothing that pants, socks, and hats for men and people have little has passed muster with the women ($45 to $169, orvis.com). or no influence in Environmental Protection Agency. Ex Officio’s BUZZ OFF gear for society.” These garments are treated to repel men, women, and kids, includes Mark Twain mosquitoes, ticks (Lyme disease!), tops, pants, and accessories for ants, flies, chiggers and midges. street or trail in polyester and poly- The active ingredient, permethrin cotton blends, some with moisture- (a synthetic analog of pyrethins, wicking properties and added natural insecticides derived from a sun protection ($9 to $84, http:// chrysanthemum flower) is bonded exofficio.com). to the garment fibers and is good Page 2 for 25 washings, with no dry adapted from BusinessWeek The Revised Classification for Scarabaeoidea: What the Hell is Going On? by Brett C. Ratcliffe and Mary Liz Jameson Systematics Research Collections W436 Nebraska Hall, University of Nebraska Lincoln, NE 68588-0514 [email protected] and [email protected]

Considering the turmoil and vast changes in the classification of the superfamily Scarabaeoidea during the last 20 years, particularly in North America, we were asked to provide an update for the readers of Scarabs wherein we offer our perspectives. Much of what follows is extracted from our scarabaeoid introduction in American Beetles (Jameson and Ratcliffe 2002). By the time this overview is printed, there may have been more changes in the classification because of the rapidly accumulating evidence supporting new hypotheses.

These rapid changes are a result of intensified study of the family groups using both traditional morphological evidence combined Brett and Mary Liz with increasingly insightful The superfamily Scarabaeoidea molecular studies. While possibly is a large, diverse, cosmopolitan disruptive now, these new studies group of beetles. As a personal are exciting because, for the aside (and, of course, with no first time, we are establishing bias), these are probably the finest the higher classification of the beetles in the world. Scarabaeoids Scarabaeoidea based on evidence are adapted to most habitats, and facts rather than intuition. and they can be fungivores, This research confirms many of herbivores, necrophages, our hypotheses of classification coprophages, saprophages, and Ed. Note: Dave Hawks is but also clearly refutes others. sometimes carnivores. They are conducting DNA studies Be on the lookout for future widely distributed around the on the Scarabaeoidea publications by Team Scarab and globe, even living in the Arctic David Hawks! in burrows. Some scarabs exhibit parental care and sociality. Page 3 Some are myrmecophilous, is not resolved and continues termitophilous, or ectoparasitic. to be debated. The hierarchical Many possess extravagant horns, level of families and subfamilies others are able to roll into a within the Scarabaeoidea is in compact ball, and still others disarray and remains unresolved. are highly armored for inquiline In most U.S. literature prior to life. A very few are occasionally the 1970s (e.g., Arnett 1968), the agricultural pests that may Scarabaeoidea included three destroy crops (even beetles have families: Passalidae, Lucanidae, to eat!) while others are used in and Scarabaeidae. This three- the biological control of dung family system of classification was and dung flies. Scarabaeoids are the “traditional” North American popular beetles due to their large system and had several practical size, bright colors, and interesting and conceptual advantages. First, natural histories. Early Egyptians it recognized the shared, derived revered the scarab as a god, characters that unite subfamilies Jean-Henri Fabre Jean-Henri Fabre studied their within the family Scarabaeidae. behavior, and Charles Darwin Second, it provided a classification used observations of scarabs in his system that allowed easy retrieval theory of sexual selection. of hierarchical information based on the fact that subfamilies were What characterizes a part of the family Scarabaeidae scarabaeoid? (e.g., life history, morphology, larval type). Phylogenetic research The antennal club is lamellate, the indicates, however, that the family prothorax is often highly modified Scarabaeidae (in the traditional for burrowing (with large coxae, sense) is not a monophyletic usually with concealed trochantins group. Accordingly, most workers and closed cavities), the protibia now follow the 12-family system is usually dentate with a single established by Browne and Scholtz spur, the wing venation is reduced (1995, 1999) and Lawrence and and with a strong intrinsic spring Newton (1995). This system mechanism for folding, tergite 8 places emphasis on the differences forms a true pygidium and is not that separate taxa rather than concealed by tergite 7, there are the similarities that unite them. four Malpighian tubules, and larvae Whereas families, subfamilies, are scarabaeiform (cylindrical, c- and tribes in the staphylinoids and shaped). curculionoids are being combined because of shared characters (thus What is the current status of the increasing efficient data retrieval), classification? the scarabaeoids are being split into numerous families because Monophyly of the superfamily of supposed differences (thus, in Scarabaeoidea is well-founded our view, decreasing information and undisputed (Lawrence and retrieval, at least in the short term). Britton 1991). The sister group The debate concerning scarabaeoid Page 4 for the Scarabaeoidea, however, classification systems illustrates the weak phylogenetic foundation of approximately 21,000 species are the superfamily. This problem is in the subfamilies Melolonthinae, the result of a number of factors Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and including (1) lack of thorough Cetoniinae (the “higher” scarabs). study of all scarabaeoid taxa, (2) Only a few phylogenetic analyses lack of diagnostic characters for have addressed relationships of all taxa, (3) lack of phylogenetic pleurostict subtribes, genera, or study of all taxa, (4) prevailing species (Ratcliffe 1976; Ratcliffe and philosophies regarding categorical Deloya 1992; Jameson 1990, 1996, levels, and (5) emphasis in 1998; Jameson et al. 1994; Krell research on the less speciose 1993; Montreuil 2000; Paucar 2003; groups of scarabaeoids and lack Smith 2003), and only one analysis of research on the more speciose has been conducted to address groups (such as the subfamilies tribal or subfamilial relationships of Scarabaeidae including the (Browne and Scholtz 1999). Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Aphodiinae, and Historically, the superfamily Cetoniinae). Scarabaeoidea was divided into Charles Darwin two generalized groups based Within the Scarabaeoidea there on the position of the abdominal is a disparity in the knowledge spiracles; the Laparosticti and between less speciose basal Pleurosticti. Pleurostict scarabs lineages and the more speciose were characterized by having groups of “higher” Scarabaeidae. most of the abdominal spiracles For example, the family situated on the upper portion of the Trogidae includes approximately sternites (Ritcher 1969; Woodruff 300 species in four genera. 1973) and included taxa whose Excellent revisionary, larval, and adults feed on leaves, flowers and phylogenetic studies are available pollen, and whose larvae feed for this group (Baker 1968; Scholtz primarily on roots and decaying 1982, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993; wood. Laparostict scarabs, on the Scholtz and Peck 1990). Excellent other hand, were characterized monographs are also available for by having most of the abdominal the approximately 600 species of spiracles located on the pleural (Howden 1955, 1964, membrane between the tergites 1979, 1985a-b, 1992; Howden and sternites (Ritcher 1969) and and Cooper 1977; Howden and included taxa whose adults and Martínez 1978) and the Trogidae larvae feed on dung, carrion, (Vaurie 1955), and these provide hides, and feathers. The position the foundation for addressing of the spiracles, however, is not a relationships within this group. consistent character (Ritcher 1969), In comparison, the family and, in recent years, subfamilies Scarabaeidae (sensu Lawrence and tribes that were once included and Newton 1995) includes in the Laparosticti have been raised approximately 91% of the species to higher taxonomic status (family (ca 27,800) of Scarabaeoidea. and subfamily, respectively). Within the Scarabaeidae, Page 5 The composition of the characters or suites of characters. Scarabaeoidea remains a topic of debate. Lawrence and Newton Underlying the classification (1995) proposed 13 families (12 problem is, of course, the fact that found in the Nearctic, Belohinidae we are dealing with constructs is Madagascan), and Scholtz that are 200 years old and that and Browne (1996) and Browne pre-date evolutionary theory. and Scholtz (1995, 1998, 1999) Linnaean classifications were proposed 13 families (all Nearctic, based on overall morphological including ; similarity rather than shared, Belohinidae was not addressed). We derived characters. Thus, some follow, with some hesitation, the groups within the scarabaeoids system of Lawrence and Newton are not monophyletic lineages; (1995) and treat the Scarabaeoidea instead, they are groups that were as including 12 Nearctic families created historically because they (11 of which were previously superficially resembled each other. considered subfamilies of the family Our system of classification needs Scarabaeidae, and one of which was to convey information and concepts previously considered a subfamily and allow for easy retrieval of A “New” Scarab of the Lucanidae). Our reluctance information. Whether a certain to accept elevation of some new taxon is classified at the level of families within the Scarabaeoidea family or subfamily may be trivial stems from the fact that: 1) there if we can continue to convey the have been no comprehensive needed information. We remain taxonomic treatments of all higher apprehensive that the trend of categories of scarabaeoids (families elevation to many families within and subfamilies) and, 2) there the Scarabaeoidea will result, at are few comprehensive, rigorous, least in the short term, in a net loss phylogenetic analyses of higher in retrievability of information. scarabaeoid groups and, thus, a lack of synapomorphic characters Despite the considerable that establish a basis for uniform debate, phylogenetic analyses of familial and subfamilial levels. We scarabaeoid higher categories prefer to see clades delimited by are on-going and their results shared derived characters before bring us closer to understanding the elevation of certain taxa to relationships of the groups. A family level. Despite our reluctance preliminary “total evidence” to accept this classification system, phylogenetic analysis of 13 we have little basis for disputing families of Scarabaeoidea the validity of current taxonomic (excluding Belohinidae, including conclusions other than the fact Bolboceratidae) and most of the that some of these taxonomic subfamilies was conducted using conclusions have been based on 134 adult and larval characters narrow taxonomic frame-works (Brown and Scholtz 1999). Results (only scarab taxa from certain of this analysis showed that geographic regions rather than all the superfamily Scarabaeoidea Page 6 scarab groups) or based on few is comprised of three major lineages: the glaresid lineage relationships of all of these taxa. that consists of only the family However, most hypotheses Glaresidae; the passalid lineage generally consider the Aphodiinae that consists of two major lines- and Scarabaeinae as the sister -a glaphyrid line (containing group to the Melolonthinae, Glaphyridae, Passalidae, Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and Lucanidae, Diphyllostomatidae, Cetoniinae. The former Trichiinae Trogidae, Bolboceratidae, and and Valginae are now considered Pleocomidae), and a geotrupid tribes of the Cetoniinae. line (containing Geotrupidae, Ochodaeidae, Ceratocanthidae, The family Scarabaeidae is and Hybosoridae); and the scarab sometimes referred to as the family lineage (containing Aphodiinae, Melolonthidae, especially by some Scarabaeinae, Orphninae, of the Latin American workers. Melolonthinae (sensu lato), In this usage, the family includes Rutelinae, Dynastinae, and the subfamilies Melolonthinae, Cetoniinae). Euchirinae, Phaenomeridinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae, The past thirty years have seen Glaphyrinae, and Systellopodinae many changes and debates in (Endrödi 1966) whereas the And Another... the classification of the family Scarabaeidae refers to everything Scarabaeidae. In the “traditional” else except Passalidae, Lucanidae, North American system, the and Trogidae. This classification category Scarabaeidae has been is not in wide use today and treated as including the all is incorrect. The family group scarabaeoid families except the names Rutelinae and Dynastinae Passalidae and Lucanidae. Old were established by MacLeay in World scarab workers have tended 1819, and the family group name to split the Scarabaeidae into Melolonthinae was established by several families. Samouelle in 1819. However, the family group name Cetoniinae was While the debate continues, we established a few years earlier in follow Lawrence and Newton 1815 by Leach. Thus, the family (1995) and consider the family group name Cetoniidae has priority Scarabaeidae to include the over Melolonthidae. Therefore, if subfamilies Aphodiinae, one wants to consider all of these Scarabaeinae, Melolonthinae, subfamilies in the same family Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and (exclusive of Scarabaeinae, which Cetoniinae. Several smaller was established by Latreille in subfamilies that are not present 1802), then the valid name would in the Nearctic region are also be Cetoniidae! Accordingly, included in the Scarabaeidae: the family name Scarabaeidae Orphninae, Phaenomeridinae, (including Melolonthinae, Pachypodinae, Allidiostomatinae, Scarabaeinae, Dynastinae, Dynamopodinae, Aclopinae, Cetoniinae, etc.) is the correct and Euchirinae. No phylogenetic family group name for these taxa analyses have addressed the and not Melolonthidae. Page 7 At the family level, classification Summary of the Families and of the world Scarabaeidae is Subfamilies of Scarabaeoidea of variably known. The classification the United States, Canada, and of the world Dynastinae is Neartic Mexico fairly well established due to the work of Endrödi (1985). Most Melolonthinae, Rutelinae, Lucanidae: Lucaninae, Nicaginae, and Cetoniinae remain poorly Syndesinae known taxonomically, and many Diphyllostomatidae New World genera cannot be Passalidae reliably identified. Classification Glaresidae of the Scarabaeinae (Hanski and Trogidae Cambefort 1991) and Aphodiinae Pleocomidae (Dellacasa 1987, 1988a, 1988b, Geotrupidae: , 1991, 1995) are fairly well Geotrupinae established. The of the Ochodaeidae: Ochodaeinae, North American scarab beetles Chaetocanthinae is relatively stable although Hybosoridae no one volume is available for Ceratocanthidae identification. Regional works Glaphyridae are sometimes the best sources Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae, for identification of Nearctic Scarabaeinae, Melolonthinae, scarab beetles. The family Rutelinae, Dynastinae, Cetoniinae Scarabaeidae includes about 91% of all scarabaeoids and includes about 27,800 species worldwide. Acknowledgment Within the Scarabaeidae, the Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae This project was supported by an include approximately 6,850 NSF/PEET grant (DEB 0118669) to species worldwide (about 22% M. L. Jameson and B. C. Ratcliffe. of scarabaeoids and 25% of Scarabaeidae). The subfamilies Orphninae, Melolonthinae, Literature Cited Dynastinae, Rutelinae, and Cetoniinae include approximately ARNETT, R. H., JR. 1968. The Beetles of the United States. A Manual for Identification. The 20,950 species (about 69% American Entomological Institute, Ann Arbor, of scarabaeoids and 75% of MI. 1,112 pp. Scarabaeidae). BAKER, C. W. 1968. Larval taxonomy of the Troginae in North America with notes on bi- ologies and life histories (Coleoptera: Scarabae- idae). United States National Museum Bulletin, 279: 1-79.

BROWNE, D. J. and C. H. SCHOLTZ. 1995. Phylogeny of the families of Scarabaeoidea (Co- leoptera) based on characters of the hindwing articulation, hindwing base and wing venation. Systematic Entomology, 20: 145-173. Page 8 BROWNE, J. and C. H. SCHOLTZ. 1998. HOWDEN, H. F. 1955. Biology and taxonomy Evolution of the scarab hindwing articulation of North American beetles of the subfam- and wing base: A contribution toward the ily Geotrupinae with revisions of the genera phylogeny of the Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeoidea: Bolbocerosoma, Eucanthus, Geotrupes and Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology, 23: 307- Peltotrupes (Scarabaeidae). Proceedings of the 326. United States National Museum, 104: 151-319.

BROWNE, J. and C. H. SCHOLTZ. 1999. A HOWDEN, H. F. 1964. A Catalog of the Co- phylogeny of the families of Scarabaeoidea leoptera of America North of Mexico. Family (Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology, 24: Scarabaeidae. Subfamily: Geotrupinae. United 51-84. States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook 529-34a. 17 pp. DELLACASA, M. 1987. Contribution to a world-wide catalogue of Aegialiidae, Apho- HOWDEN, H. F. 1979. A revision of the diidae, Aulonocnemidae, Termitotrogidae Australian genus Blackburnium Boucomont (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea). Memorie della (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae). Società Entomologica Italiana, 66: 1-455. Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary Series, 72:1-88. DELLACASA, M. 1988a. Contribution to a world-wide catalogue of Aegialiidae, Apho- HOWDEN, H. F. 1985a. A revision of the South diidae, Aulonocnemidae, Termitotrogidae American genus Parathyreus Howden and (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea) Part II. Memorie Martínez (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Geotrupi- della Società Entomologica Italiana, 67: 1-229. nae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 39: 161-173.

DELLACASA, M. 1988b. Contribution to a HOWDEN, H. F. 1985b. A revision of the South world-wide catalogue of Aegialiidae, Apho- American species in the genus Neoathyreus diidae, Aulonocnemidae, Termitotrogidae Howden and Martínez (Coleoptera, Scarabaei- (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea). Addenda et dae, Geotrupinae). Contributions of the Ameri- corrigenda (First note). Memorie della Società can Entomological Institute, 21: 1-95. Entomologica Italiana, 67: 291-316. HOWDEN, H. F. 1992. A revision of the Aus- DELLACASA, M. 1991. Contribution to a tralian genera Eucanthus Westwood, Bol- world-wide catalogue of Aegialiidae, Apho- bobaineus Howden and Cooper, Australobolbus diidae, Aulonocnemidae, Termitotrogidae Howden and Cooper and Gilletus Boucomont (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea). Addenda et cor- (Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae). Invertebrate Tax- rigenda (Second note). Memorie della Società onomy, 6: 605-717. Entomologica Italiana, 70: 3-57. HOWDEN, H. F. and J. B. COOPER. 1977. DELLACASA, M. 1995. Contribution to a The generic classification of the Bolboceratini world-wide catalogue of Aegialiidae, Apho- of the Australian Region, with descriptions of diidae, Aulonocnemidae, Termitotrogidae four new genera (Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae). (Coleoptera Scarabaeoidea). Addenda et cor- Australian Journal of Zoology, Supplementary rigenda (Third note). Memorie della Società Series, 50: 1-50. Entomologica Italiana, 74: 159-232. HOWDEN, H. F. and A. MARTÍNEZ. 1978. A ENDRÖDI, S. 1966. Monographie der Dy- review of the New World genus Athyreus Ma- nastinae (Coleoptera, Lamellicornia) I. Teil. cLeay (Scarabaeidae, Geotrupinae, Athyreini). Entomologische Abhandlungen Museum für Contributions of the American Entomological Tierkunde, 33: 1-460. Institute, 15: 1-70.

ENDRÖDI, S. 1985. The Dynastinae of the JAMESON, M. L. 1990. Revision, phylogeny World. Dr. W. Junk Publisher, London. 800 pp. and biogeography of the genera Parabyrsopolis Ohaus and Viridimicus (new genus) (Coleop- HANSKI, I. and Y. CAMBEFORT. 1991. Dung tera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Coleopterists Beetle Ecology. Princeton University Press, Bulletin, 44: 377-422. Princeton, NJ. 481 pp. JAMESON, M. L. 1996. Revision and phylogeny of the Neotropical genus Cnemida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Insecta Mundi, 10: 285-315.

Page 9 JAMESON, M. L. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of RATCLIFFE, B. C. and A. C. DELOYA. 1992. the subtribe Rutelina and revision of the Rutela The biogeography and phylogeny of Hologym- generic groups (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: netis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) Rutelinae: Rutelini). Bulletin of the University of with a revision of the genus. Coleopterists Bul- Nebraska State Museum, 14: 1-184. letin, 46: 161-202.

JAMESON, M. L. and B. C. RATCLIFFE. 2002. RITCHER, P. O. 1969. Spiracles of adult Scara- Series Scarabaeiformia Crowson 1960, Super- baeoidea (Coleoptera) and their phylogenetic family Scarabaeoidea Latreille 1802, pp. 1-5. In, significance. I. The abdominal spiracles. Annals Arnett, R. H., M. Thomas, P. E. Skelley, and J. H. of the Entomological Society of America, 62: Frank (eds.), American Beetles, Volume 2. CRC 869-880. Press, Boca Raton, FL. 861 pp. SCHOLTZ, C. H. 1982. Catalogue of the world JAMESON, M. L., B. C. RATCLIFFE and M. A. Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Republic MORÓN. 1994. A synopsis of the Neotropical of South Africa, Department of Agriculture and genus Calomacraspis Bates with a key to larvae Fisheries, Entomology Memoire, 54: 1-27. of the American genera of Rutelini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae). Annals of the Entomo- SCHOLTZ, C. H. 1986. Phylogeny and system- logical Society of America, 87: 43-58. atics of the Trogidae (Coleoptera: Scarabae- oidea). Systematic Entomology, 11: 355-363. KRELL, F.-T. 1993. Phylogenetisch-system- atische Revision des Genus Temnorhynchus SCHOLTZ, C. H. 1990. Phylogenetic trends Hope, 1837 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: in the Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera). Journal of Melolonthidae: Dynastinae: Pentodontini). 1. Natural History, 24: 1027-1066. Teil: Phylogenetische Analyse, mit Anmerkunge zur phylogenetisch-sytematischen Methodolo- SCHOLTZ, C. H. 1993. Descriptions of larvae gie. Beitrage zur Entomologie, 43: 237-318. of African Trogidae (Coleoptera), with implica- tions for the phylogeny of the family. African LAWRENCE, J. F. and E. B. BRITTON. 1991. Entomology, 1: 1-13. Coleoptera. The of Australia, 2nd edition, Volume 1, , pp. 543-683. Melbourne SCHOLTZ, C. H. and J. BROWNE. 1996. Poly- University Press, Carlton. phyly in the Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scara- baeoidea): a case for a new family Bolbocerati- LAWRENCE, J. F. and A. F. NEWTON. 1995. dae. Journal of Natural History, 30: 597-614. Families and subfamilies of Coleoptera (with selected genera, notes, references and data on SCHOLTZ, C. H. and PECK. 1990. Description family-group names), pp. 779-1006. In J. Paka- of a Polynoncus Burmeister larva, with implica- luk and S. A. Slipínski (eds.), Biology, Phylogeny, tions for phylogeny of the Trogidae (Coleop- and Classification of Coleoptera. Papers Cel- tera: Scarabaeoidea). Systematic Entomology, ebrating the 80th Birthday of Roy. A. Crowson. 15: 383-389. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii PAN, Warszawa. 1,092 pp. SMITH, A. B. T. 2003. A monographic revision of the genus Platycoelia Dejean (Coleoptera: MONTREUIL, O. 2000. Cladistic systematics of Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anoplognathini). the genus Amphimallon (Coleoptera: Scara- Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State baeidae: Melolonthinae). European Journal of Museum 15: 1-202. Entomology 97: 253-270. VAURIE, P. 1955. A revision of the genus Trox PAUCAR, A. 2003. Systematics and phylogeny in North America. Bulletin of the American of the genus Epectinaspis Blanchard (Coleop- Museum of Natural History, 106: 1-89. tera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) and description of a new genus of Anomalini from Mexico. WOODRUFF, R. E. 1973. The scarab beetles of Coleopterists Society Monographs 2: 1-60. Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Part. I. The Laparosticti (subfamilies: Scarabaeinae, Apho- RATCLIFFE, B. C. 1976. A revision of the genus diinae, Hybosorinae, Ochodaeinae, Geotrupi- Strategus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Bulletin nae, Acanthocerinae). of Florida of the University of Nebraska State Museum, 10: and Neighboring Land Areas, 8: 1-220. 93-204.

Page 10 Scatalogical Ramblings II By Barney D. (Dead-inside) Streit

Since Editor Bill’s classic exposé on al in The Coleopterists Bulletin, trapping for dung beetles (Scarabs, vol. 57, no. 3, September, 2003, pp. Occasional Issue #2), quite a few 353-357) share early morning flight modifications of Bill’s classic times. technique have been attempted. Some of the more worthwhile Bruce Gill’s paper “Dung Beetles items are reported here. In Tropical American Forests” (in Dung Beetle Ecology, edited by Trap Location – Is It Such A Big Ilkka Hanski and Yves Cambefort, Deal? Princeton University Press, 1991, page 215), may yield a clue. Bruce For some species of Phanaeus, states, “Dawn and dusk are the two such as the newly named P. periods when the defecation rate yecoraensis, trap location seems to of mammals might be expected to be vitally important. A difference peak due to the change in activity of a few feet or so can matter, with in both diurnal and nocturnal Highly Recommended one trap consistently attracting species.” It is as yet unknown why 1-5 specimens, and a nearby these species have no dusk flights. (30 feet away) trap consistently getting nothing. In this instance, Coleoptera like to fly against the no differences in the habitat could wind, so it is usually a good idea to be discerned, so no advice can be place traps in draws and gullies, if given for the placement of traps, you are in a hilly area. Editor Rich except for one. When dealing with says my stuff has no upwind side, a rare species with an unknown but for the rest of you, this is good biology, set a good number of advice. traps: the more the stinkier. For common species of dung It is not known why this (and beetles, set traps adjacent to various other) Phanaeus is so pastures with grazing cows. Under particular and so uncommon. barbed-wire fences is usually the I suspect that its flight period, safest spot. which is in the morning, is very short - this may be the reason for Does Diet of the Dung Donor the paucity of specimens. Further Matter? study is needed to understand why it is so localized, and why it I think it does. There have been flies only in the morning, but not instances where Rich and I had at dusk. Phanaeus yecoraensis 19 traps active. We needed high- (see Edmonds, W. D., in The quality dung (called gourmet dung Coleopterists Bulletin, vol. 58, no. in France) and lots of it (yes, size 1, March, 2004, pp.119-124) and does matter!). Here are what I P. alvarengai (see Vulinec, K. et consider key items on the menu. Page 11 For breakfast, stick with a cereal clusters. Chocolate consists of consisting of milk and granola. over 400 chemicals - egads! - now Milk gives your feces a complexity that’s complex! The peanuts are an that I feel is irresistible to many extremely high source of fiber. species. Milk intake may well be the reason calf dung is more attractive In summary, the concept is than cattle dung. Astute readers very simple: a big lunch is both will recall “Wirth”Less Tip #3 in pushed and pulled through Scarabs Occasional Issue Number the scarabaeologist’s (or the 8, which noted that calf dung scarabaeologist’s significant other’s) seems more attractive to Phanaeus digestive tract by a high-fiber Eat Right, and They than cow dung. It seems logical breakfast and afternoon snack. The Shall Be Yours... to conclude that the calves’ milk food intake is high in fiber yet rich intake is the difference. So, have in milk and chocolate. plenty of milk with your cereal. The granola is great roughage because What Else Can I Do To Enhance it is high in fiber. High fiber foods Attractiveness? pull water from your gut, resulting in a moist stool. Dry stools are While scouring the collection not as odiferous or beautiful as at Gainesville, I noted several shimmering, glistening stools. specimens of Phanaeus that had Definitions: Moist stools give off a nice, rank been collected with only water scent due to the evaporative effect. and yeast as bait. I verified this Winner: Got Dung Loser: No Got Dung Please remember that salads, while with Mike Thomas, who collected possibly adding complexity, offer the specimens. It was interesting very little fiber. Grains and nuts listening to two other members of are your best bet. As an aside, trail the Gainesville Hordes, Paul Skelley mix is a great snack, especially the and Bob Woodruff, discussing variety with the chocolate candy. the merits of the explosive local Editor Bill thinks “Carnivore Crap” swine dung, affectionately called is best. Having a pickled egg, milk, “Gainesville Gold.” They think bratwurst, and beer makes great there is a high concentration of bait if you don’t die first. yeast (or something like it) in these feces that make it more attractive. Lunch can consist of anything you Of course, the downside is that desire. This food will become the this concoction is “explosive” if primary bolus or “bulk” of your kept in a tightly-closed container. sacred offering to the dung beetles. This was mentioned by Editor Bill in his aforementioned exposé in Up to this point, we have a Occasional Issue Number 2. complex, high-fiber breakfast pulling a big lunch through the Although I do not think this has digestive tract. What we need been tested, perhaps a “Super Bait” now is an afternoon snack to add could be concocted at the time the more richness, yet with enough trap is placed. A two- or three-day fiber to push that lunch along. old blend of water and yeast could Page 12 The answer is almond or peanut be mixed into your dung. Better, put it in the main cup instead of It is called aluminum electric fence plain water. wire, 17 gauge, made by Fi-Shock Inc., and comes on a small spool of How to Protect Your Trap 250 feet. Bailing wire is also good.

Falling leaves from tropical Thusly set, the entire trap is flat downpours wreck havoc on dung and level with the ground, so that a traps by giving beetles a platform plate can be placed over it. The nice to crawl onto and then fly away. thing about this design is that the Moreover, the trap itself can float out of its hole if the downpour is severe. In arid areas, the problem is that direct sunlight will dry out the dung source, diminishing its effectiveness. Another problem can occur if you get a lot of beetles in the trap; latecomers can land on the backs of early arrivals and fly away. What to do?

Alex Reifschneider came up with a nice and easy solution. We have coined the term Lower Reifschneider Rain Shield in honor of its creator. Place a paper plate, with a 2” hole cut into the center, over the trap. Place two or three wire and bait can easily be pulled The Lower Reifschneider rocks on the edges of the plate to up and out of the way, so that the Rain Shield in place. Is hold it (and the trap beneath) in cup containing the beetles can be that really his dung? See place. This plate does not need pulled out, and the catch dumped text! to be raised above the ground into a strainer. Sticks smeared with because the beetles will crawl bait can still be, and should be, through the hole in the plate. stuck into the ground to “add to the aroma,” as Editor Bill has stated. In such a trap, the bait is placed in a 1-ounce portion cup, available at The photos herein depict the trap Costco. Pre-punch a hole near the setup. Please note that these are rim of the cup. Editor Rich found posed studio shots - not the real that a small soldering iron works thing. Chocolate pudding has well for making this hole. A small been substituted for the actual wire, perhaps 5-inches long, can bait in an attempt to not offend be impaled into the dirt adjacent any Melolonthine or Cetonid Alex “Rain Shield” to the main cup and bent to hold enthusiasts who stumbled across Reifschneider the bait cup. Coat hanger wire will these photos by mistake. To Quote: “The affinity for suffice, but is stiff and difficult to enhance realism, a few corn kernels cerambycids can now be work with. A nice, inexpensive were artfully placed in the pudding surgically corrected.” wire can be found at Home Depot. by our art director and stylist. Page 13 Further, the corn can be thought of as a small tribute to Team Scarab, located at University of Nebraska.

How to Make Your Trap More Attractive

While in French Guiana, Alex and I did a bit of experimenting. We were in a forest with some great scarabs: Sulcophaneus faunus and Oxysternon festivum among them. We remembered Henry Howden’s classic article on perching behavior of dung beetles (Howden, H. F. and Nealis, V. G., Observations on Height of Perching Once the Reifschneider Rain Shield is removed, the wire loop in Some Tropical Dung Beetles allows the dung cup to be swung out of the way, for easy - and clean (Scarabaeidae), Biotropica, 10:43- - retrival of specimens. 46, 1978). It stated that some dung beetles are selective perchers, with larger species perching higher than smaller species, so that they would not be tempted by wafts from dung resources too small for their needs.

To test this, we hung a second portion cup on a branch directly above the trap, as high as we could reach. These traps did indeed seem more successful at attracting larger specimens in greater numbers. However, our experience was limited. More testing is needed! This high cup can also be protected from rain by using the Upper Reifschneider Rain Shield (see photo).

The Upper Reifschneider Rain Shield shown protecting (well, kind Transporting Dung of) the bait in the upper cup. The ideal container, as Editor Bill has mentioned, is a wide-mouthed, screw-top plastic jar. Before you leave on a trip, freeze a jar of bait. I do not think it compromises its Page 14 attractiveness at all. In fact, if your diet has been low-fiber, and the to contrast it with a notation such bait is a bit “stiff,” freezing and as “86 specimens/1 trap/8-12 AM.” then letting the stuff warm up seems to enhance its consistency. Indeed, should you run a trap for If you decide to haul your bait successive days, all the dates the (as some enterprising souls have trap was running could be listed done) be prepared to provide an in addition to the total specimens explanation at customs. My fellow collected each day. This could be editors have not had this problem, useful information, especially for as they are not Dung Terrorists, rare species. but “full of bait.”

More than once Mr. Pleocoma (Frank Hovore) has tried to get Notable Publications under my skin by uttering foul words and holding his nose when I So many notable publications opened my jar 200 feet away. I just have emerged since our last issue smile at him, and thank him for we cannot comment on them the compliment. all. Scarab Central at University of Nebraska has emerged as Transporting and Storing Your the source of several important Trophies Scarab works. The latest is Brett Ratcliffe’s The Dynastine Scarab After drying out your washed and Beetles of Costa Rica and Panama. cleaned specimens, place them This along with Andrew Smith’s A in a small Zip-Loc bag. Then take Monographic Revision of the Genus a clean paper towel, fold it and Platycoelia Dejean and Mary Liz impregnate it with ethyl acetate. Jameson’s Phylogenetic Analysis of These bags can be transported the Subtribe Rutelina and Revision inside the type of plastic box used of the Rutela Generic Groups belong for storing food in the refrigerator. in every scarab enthusiast’s library. Once you are home, the bugs Order them from the Publications can be pinned or placed in the Secretary, W436 Nebraska Hall, refrigerator. Either way, your catch University of Nebraska State will be pliable and mold free. Museum, Lincoln, NE 68588-0514.

A Note About Labeling Dave Edmonds has revised Sulcophanaeus and Oxysternon. I have never done this, nor seen it These are published by Folia done. Several times, when going Heyrovskyana, and can be ordered through collections and looking at online from various sources. seldom-collected scarabaeines, I have wondered if the beetle before The second volume of Atlas de me was common or not at the time los Escarabajos de Mexico is out, of collection. Perhaps a notation and available through BioQuip. It such as “39 specimens/5 traps/3 covers the Scarabaeidae, Trogidae, days” should be added to the label, Passalidae and Lucanidae. Page 15 A Collecting Tip for Bradycinetulus

by Barney D. (Dufus) Streit The Monahans sand dunes in snickering at me — and I vowed Texas offer a rich palette of scarab not to poke fun at him ever again. I fauna, including two species of then checked the second light. This Polyphylla, Glaresis, and the large one also was almost out; it had the Geotrupine Bradycinetulus fossatus dull luminescence of a flashlight. (Haldeman). Editor Rich and I The laughter grew louder in my set up two mercury vapor lamps ears. I sat there maybe 15 minutes and assorted blacklights. I placed and no new scarabs flew in. I two blacklight lanterns on ground watched the light go out, and as it sheets. Unbeknownst to me, these did, a female Bradycinetulus flew two units had weak batteries. In my in. Only then did the laughter stop. defense, and in an effort not to look utterly stupid to you, our readers, I The notion that Bolbos prefer dim must state that I was, after all, with light is not a new one. I remember Rich, and little Cunninghaming can Doctor Art Evans, Ph.D. spinning rub off on anybody! a yarn that a Bolbocerastes regalis flew into his flashlight as he was walking in the desert. We need to test this, by perhaps covering our blacklight lamps with cloth in order to dim them. Maybe even those blue light sticks (available at Camphor) would be a good attractant. Note that at Monahans, no Bradycinetulus were found at the mercury vapor lamps. We did collect another specimen at the park entrance. It was found in the parking lot, some distance from the nearest mercury vapor light, sitting in the shadow created by the curb. Not to be outdone by Later in the evening, I walked other contributors, to one of these units, and the If anyone has similar experiences here is a photo of with beetles of this tribe, please Editor Barney with a blacklight was out entirely. couple of the ladies However, sitting on the sheet was contact us. from work: Sue and a nice male Bradycinetulus. I took Charissa. the light back to the truck — it was done for the night as I had no spare D-cell batteries. At that moment I knew what it was like to be Rich. I felt his pain...and though Page 16 we were alone, I could hear people Pin Labels, Macs and Microsoft Word A lot of coleopterists use the Apple A bug in Word then changes the McIntosh computer. We do not shape of your paper from 8.5” x 11” know why that is - perhaps we are to something shaped more like a cutting-edge people. Editor Barney square. You can see the effect on used the Mac, tried Windows, but Print Preview. When the labels are went back to the Mac after a worm copied, pasted into a vertical strip wiped out the hard drive on the and then printed, Word only prints Windows machine. Tip: there are the top 3/4 of the page. no known viruses for Mac OS X, there may be but one single Trojan Try switching to Mariner Write Horse. This is a great reason to use (www.marinersoftware.com) which the Mac. will open and allow you to edit Microsoft Word files. This this a A problem occurs when using small, elegant word processor that An Undesired Bug! Microsoft Word to make a strip will allow you to use all of that of pin labels. A commonly used paper. font is Arial Narrow. The label is composed in 9-point sized letters. Acid-free, 57 pound paper made for Under Page Setup, you tell the laser printers is ideal. system to print at 40% reduction.

About Scarabs... Insect Pins

The scarabs on the masthead are The original Elephant brand of Chalcentis victima Germ. and insect pins were made in Austria. Calomacrapsis haroldi Cand. Since the demise of this fine pin, Both graphics are from Plate 4 of collectors have been searching for a Genera Insectorum, Coleoptera suitable replacement. Lamellicorna, Fam. Scarabaeidae, Subfam. Rutelinae, by F. Ohaus, Mr. Pleocoma recommended 1934. The images were scanned the Kostal brand from the Czech by a Microtek 9800XL flatbed Republic. These pins cost $4.00 scanner using SilverFast software, per 100, and can be ordered online then they were tweaked in Adobe from Ianni Butterfly Enterprises at Photoshop CS. Using Adobe http://iannibutterfly.net/ InDesign CS, a clipping path was created to remove the background These too are very nice pins: sharp, of the two beetles. The title is well coated (japanned) and with in 60-point Capitals; the letters nylon heads that stay on. were manually kerned in Adobe Illustrator CS. The newsletter itself was assembled in Adobe InDesign CS using an 8-column grid and the Warnock Pro family of typefaces. All software is for the Mac OS X. Page 17 A Request for Phanaeus Specimens by Dana L. Price Rutgers University 93 Lipman Drive, Blake Hall New Brunswick, NJ 08904 Email: [email protected] Lab: 732-932-8872 I am currently a graduate student that have been fortunate enough to at Rutgers University in New watch them in their back yard, on Jersey. My Ph.D. work is titled the trail, or on television. “Phylogenetic analysis of the dung beetle genus Phanaeus Though my future plans are to (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) using travel to far-away places for the morphological and molecular data”. collection of dung beetles, my own experiences thus far have been within the United States. Yes, I have used my own dung. And yes, I do believe that human dung is the worst smelling; no wonder it attracts so many different species of beetles.

While I am gaining experience Dana L. Price here in the U.S., I wish to ask all of you kind dung-beetle enthusiasts if you would send me Phanaeus species. All species are welcome. I am especially interested in those species of which there are currently only a few sitting in museums. These specimens will be useful for both internal and external morphological studies. In addition to morphological data, these While I have only been working specimens will be used for the with dung beetles for four years extraction of DNA. The importance now, I am very enthusiastic about of fresh specimens for molecular the many great projects that can work cannot be stressed enough. be done with dung beetles. Not Any specimens or assistance would only are they great for studies be greatly appreciated. dealing with biocontrol, behavior, Ed. Note: Specimens that have come in and sexual selection, they are contact with ethyl acetate are unusable also important to understanding for DNA analysis. Drowned or live beetles tropical rainforest diversity and should be stored in 95% ethyl alcohol, they are of general interest to most which Dana will gladly supply. Dana’s web Page 18 page is: www.rci.rutgers.edu/~struwe/price/