Forum Entomologi Italiani

date: 22.04.2010
place:Romania, Bacau county, Moldavia
size: ~ 5 mm

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alexandrupintilioaie(AT)gmail.com

Ammoecius???

Ciao

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Giacomo

It's either a extra big specimen of Aphodius (Ammoecius) brevis (3.5-4.5 mm) or small female of Aphodius (Loraspis) frater (4.8-6.5 mm).

Here is the differential diagnosis between both species:
- scutellum with distinct median longitudinal carina ... A. (L.) frater
- scutellum without median longitudinal carina ......... A. (L.) brevis

Both species have similar bionomy: adults live in quite dry last year's dung (A. frater only in cattle dung, A. brevis is not so much fastidious). I have collected both species many times (A. frater is locally common in Hortobágyi N.P. in Hungary).

Here You have a schematic design of scutellum of both species:

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Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)

Many thanks aphodius from informations about species biology and differences betwen A. brevis and A frater. I think is A. brevis, because A. frater is not present in Romania, but I will check my specimen today to be sure

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alexandrupintilioaie(AT)gmail.com

According to morphology of its clypeus, it seems to be A. brevis.
But A. frater out of doubt lives in Romania, though it isn't mentioned in the last checklist of romanian Scarabaeoidea from Chimişliu (2004). The species is recorded from Romania e.g. by Dellacasa & Dellacasa 2006: Tribe Aphodiini Leach, 1815, pp 105-143. In: LÖBL I. & SMETANA A. (eds.): Catalogue of Palearctic Coleoptera. Vol. 3. Scarabaeoidea – Scirtoidea – Dascilloidea – Buprestoidea – Byrrhoidea. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 690 pp.

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Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)

in the end Hortobágyi is just few km to the west of Romanian border... nice place

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Cosmin-Ovidiu Manci
**********************
cosmln's place - my blog
just insects
Dragonflies of Romania

Sorry, Cornelia Chimişliu (2004) mentions A. frater from Romania under the name Aphodius (s.str.) sulcatus (F.).

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Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)

This is better photo of A. (Ammoecius) brevis:

_________________
Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)

Now I am 100% sure that my specimen is Ammoecius brevis

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alexandrupintilioaie(AT)gmail.com

this is not just a better, this is a great photo

_________________
Cosmin-Ovidiu Manci
**********************
cosmln's place - my blog
just insects
Dragonflies of Romania

But it's not my photo - it's from Polish colleagues.

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Daniel

Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. (ΚΑΤΑ ΙΩΑΝΝΗΝ, 1,9)