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New
Nebraska records:
Pseudocanthon
perplexus (LeConte)
Pseudocanthon
perplexus is easily confused with Canthon viridis.
Although usually metallic green, a bronze form of the latter occurs
in Nebraska that greatly resembles P. perplexus. Although
both species have been collected in Nebraska, until recently the
P. perplexus were misidentified. The following information
highlights characteristics of each species to facilitate their
identification. |
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Pseudocanthon
perplexus (LeConte) 1847
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Canthon
viridis
(Palisot de Beauvois) 1805
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Diagnostic
trait:
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four clypeal teeth
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two
clypeal teeth
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| Other traits: |
Length: 3.5 to 4.8 mm. No raised
margin on the base of the head where it meets the pronotum. |
Length: 2.7 to 4.5 mm. As in
the photo above, the base of the top of the head has a distinct margined
ridge. |
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Distribution |
Specimens are known from Texas,
Florida, Arizona, and Louisiana (Robinson 1948); The UNSM collection
contains specimens from Oklahoma, Iowa, and Nebraska. |
Known from
NY, NJ, PA, MN, NC, SC, and FL (Robinson 1948); Eastern US west
to NE, KS, OK, and TX (Ratcliffe 1991); |
| Locality Records- |
17 specimens examined: JEFFERSON
Co. (4); KEITH Co. (1): Keystone; LANCASTER Co. (1): Bennet; NEMAHA
Co. (3); NUCKOLLS Co.(1); RICHARDSON Co. (4): Indian Cave SP; SARPY
Co. (3): Bellevue; |
116 specimens examined: CASS
Co. (1): South Bend; FRANKLIN Co. (21); FRONTIER Co. (2); JEFFERSON
Co. (6); KNOX Co. (1); LANCASTER Co. (50): Bennet; NUCKOLLS Co. (1);
RICHARDSON Co. (20): Indian Cave SP; SARPY Co. (3): Bellevue; SEWARD
Co. (8): Seward; THOMAS Co. (3): Halsey; |
| MAP |
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| Temporal Distribution- |
MAY (1); JUNE (11); JULY (4);
AUGUST (1); |
MAY (12); JUNE (60); JULY (9);
AUGUST (34); |
| Remarks- |
This species is nocturnal. I
have collected specimens in Nebraska at blacklight, as well as rolling
a ball of dung on a Nemaha County road at night. |
Collected on dung and in carrion
baited pitfall traps, diurnal. Not attracted to light. |
Robinson,
M. 1948. A review of the species of Canthon inhabiting
the United States (Scarabaeidae: Coleoptera). Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc.
74: 83-100.
Ratcliffe,
B.C. 1991. The
Scarab Beetles of Nebraska. Bulletin of the Univ. of Nebr.
State Museum. 12: 1-333.
Acknowledgements:
Specimens examined are located in the collections of: The University of
Nebraska State Museum and M.J. Paulsen.
Paulsen,
M.J. 2002 |
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