Histerid Beetles Associated with Livestock
Dung in Canada
By Yves Bousquet
Introduction

Introduction
The purpose of this work is to provide an identification tool for the
List of species treated histerid beetles associated with livestock dung in Canada. An
illustrated key is provided for the adult stage. Larvae, which also live
Method of citation
Referencesin livestock dung, are still very poorly known and cannot be included.
The key covers 33 native and introduced species in 11 genera and 5
Morphology
subfamilies occurring in Canada that have been reported in theliterature as occurring in livestock dung or that I have collected in
Identification key
Treatment of species such habitat during my investigations over the past five years. It is
likely that other histerid species will turn up in livestock dung. For
Acknowledgments
the identification of these species, the reader is referred to Bousquetand Laplante (1999) for eastern Canada and Bousquet and Laplante(in press) for Canada.
In addition to the key, provided for each species are a diagnosis anddescription to further aid users in distinguishing the species, plus
notes on known habitat and distribution. Maps detailing distribution
in Canada are linked from 'Geographical distribution'. The species
information can be accessed from the list of species provided below
or through the respective species name in the key in the html version.
The information is also provided as a PDF document. Note that inorder to keep the PDF document as small as possible, theaccompanying maps have been removed to a separate file whichmust also be downloaded if you wish to view them in detail.

List of Species TreatedSubfamily Abraeinae MacLeay, 1819
Acritus nigricornis (Hoffmann, 1803)
Subfamily Dendrophilinae Reitter, 1909
Xestipyge conjunctum (Say, 1825)
Subfamily Histerinae Gyllenhal, 1808
Atholus bimaculatus (Linné, 1758)
Atholus falli (Bickhardt, 1912)
Atholus sedecimstriatus (Say, 1825)
Hister abbreviatus Fabricius, 1775
Hister curtatus J.E. LeConte, 1844
Hister depurator Say, 1825
Hister furtivus J.E. LeConte, 1859
Margarinotus faedatus (J.E. LeConte, 1845)
Margarinotus harrisii (Kirby, 1837)
Margarinotus hudsonicus (Casey, 1893)
Margarinotus immunis (Erichson, 1834)
Margarinotus interruptus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1818)
Margarinotus lecontei Wenzel, 1944
Margarinotus merdarius (Hoffmann, 1803)
Margarinotus obscurus (Kugelann, 1792)
Margarinotus purpurascens (Herbst, 1792)

Margarinotus rectus (Casey, 1916)
Margarinotus umbrosus (Casey, 1893)
Phelister subrotundus (Say, 1825)
Spilodiscus ulkei (Horn, 1870)
Subfamily Onthophilinae MacLeay, 1819
Onthophilus deflectus Helava, 1978
Onthophilus pluricostatus J.E. LeConte, 1844
Subfamily Saprininae Lacordaire, 1854
Euspilotus assimilis (Paykull, 1811)
Euspilotus scrupularis (J.E. LeConte, 1859)
Saprinus distinguendus Marseul, 1855
Saprinus lugens Erichson, 1834
Saprinus oregonensis J.E. LeConte, 1844
Saprinus profusus Casey, 1893
Saprinus subnitescens Bickhardt, 1909
Xerosaprinus acilinea (Marseul, 1862)
Xerosaprinus lubricus (J.L. LeConte, 1851)

Method of Citation

Bousquet, Y. 2002. Histerid beetles associated with livestock dung in
Canada.
http://res2.agr.ca/ecorc/apss/histkey/intro.htm March, 2002.

References
Blatchley, W.S. 1910.
An illustrated descriptive catalogue of the Coleoptera or beetles(exclusive of the Rhynchophora) known to occur in Indiana with bibliography and descriptions of new species. The Nature
Publishing Co., Indianapolis. 1386 pp.
Blume, R.R. 1985.
A checklist, distributional record, and annotated bibliographyof the insects associated with bovine droppings on pastures in
America north of Mexico. Southwestern Entomologist
Supplement 9: 1-55.
Bousquet, Y. and S. Laplante. 1999.
Les Coléoptères Histéridés du Quebec. Fabreries, Supplement
8. 190 pp.
Bousquet, Y. and S. Laplante (in press).
Histeridae (Coleoptera) of Canada. NRC Press.
Caterino, M.S. 1998.
A phylogenetic revision of Spilodiscus Lewis (Coleoptera:
Histeridae). Journal of Natural History 32: 1129-1168.
Hatch, M.H. 1962.
The beetles of the Pacific Northwest. Part III: Pselaphidae andDiversicornia I. University of Washington Publications in
Biology, vol. 16. Seattle. 503 pp.
Helava, J.V.T. 1978.
A revision of the Nearctic species of the genus Onthophilus
Leach (Coleoptera: Histeridae). Contributions of the American
Entomological Institute 15(5): 1-43.
Mazur, S. 1997.
A world catalogue of the Histeridae (Coleoptera: Histeroidea).

Wrocaw. 373 pp.
Summerlin, J.W., D.E. Bay, R.L. Harris, D.J. Russell & K.C.
Stafford III. 1982.
Predation by four species of Histeridae (Coleoptera) on Horn
Fly (Diptera: Muscidae). Annals of the Entomological Societyof America 75: 675-677.
Vienna, P. 1980.
Coleoptera Histeridae. Faune d'Italia, vol. XVI. Calderini,
Bologna. ix + 386 pp.

Acknowledgments

I thank Serge Laplante for his involvement and help with this project,
and Robert Fairchild for web page design.

Morphological Characters

Introduction
List of species treated This section presents a general account of the external morphology ofadult Histeridae and defines structural terms and expressions used in
Method of citation
the identification keys and the descriptions of the taxa. As an aid toReferences
recognitionof the structures, the reader will find illustrations showing
Morphology
a dorsal view (Fig. 1) and a ventral view (Fig. 2) of a typicalHisterinae, as well as a left lateral view of the pronotum and theIdentification key
Treatment of species elytron of a Histerinae (Fig. 3) and of a Saprininae (Fig. 4). In thepresent section, the name of each structure discussed is followed, in
Acknowledgments
parentheses, by the corresponding abbreviation used in Figures 1-4.
Head. Some species have on the dorsum of the head a frontal stria(fs), which could be entire or interrupted at the middle. The part
anterior to the stria is the epistoma (ep) while the part posterior to thatstria is the front (fr). When the frontal stria is absent or widelyinterrupted at the middle, the limits of the epistoma and the front are
uncertain. In this case we used the term epistoma to designate the partof the head anterior to an imaginary line between the bases of theantennae and the term front to designate the part located posterior tothis line.
Visually, the antenna is composed of three parts: the scape, which
represents the first segment; the funicle, which comprises the nextnine segments, all of similar dimensions; and the club, formed by thelast 3 segments which are enlarged. The club is compact andgenerally covered with dense, short hairs. In most species, it ispossible to distinguish a few sutures (or annuli) on the club, which
may be more or less straight or bent toward the apex or the base.
Pronotum. In most species of Histeridae, the pronotum has a fine stria
along the margin anteriorly and laterally, the marginal stria (ms),which defines the lateral and anterior beads. This stria may beinterrupted at the middle along the anterior margin or on each side ofthat margin at the level of the eyes or absent at the base of the lateral
margins. Some species, especially in the subfamily Histerinae, also
bear two other striae on the side of the pronotum. The stria closest to
the marginal stria is the outer lateral stria (ols) and the farthest one is
the inner lateral stria (ils). These striae may be entire and extend
from the anterior region of the pronotum to the posterior region or
reduced in length to various extents. If only one stria is present, it isdesignated as the lateral stria.

A few species, such as Acritus nigricornis, show a transverse row ofsmall, elongate dots at the base of the pronotum. This structure, whichlooks like a crenulate line, is the antescutellar stria.
Elytra. The inflexed part of the elytron usually has two striae. The
stria farthest from the lateral margin, which is called the marginalstria (mse), starts near the base of the elytron in most species. In
some species, this stria extends along the apical margin of the elytron.
The second stria is the epipleural stria (es) and is located between thelateral edge of the elytron and the marginal stria. Some species bear
more than one stria between the lateral edge and the marginal stria.
In most species of Histeridae, the dorsal surface of the elytra bears
several striae. The number and the length of these striae vary fromone group to another. Starting from the lateral side, there is the outersubhumeral stria (oss), the inner subhumeral stria (iss) and thehumeral stria (hs). The last one, if present, is rather short, very fine,usually oblique and restricted to the anterior region of the elytra.
These striae are followed by the dorsal striae (ds1-5), numbered 1 to
5, and the sutural stria (ss) which, as its name implies, lies close to
the suture. In numerous species, some of these striae are absent, while
in some species all of them may be absent. These striae are said to be
entire when they extend from the base, though not quite reaching thebasal margin, to the apical region, without reaching the apical margin.
In many instances, some of these striae are abbreviated (erased at one
extremity, usually at base), intermittent (interrupted several times), oreven restricted to a very short segment or a series of dots. Since it isunusual for all striae to be present, their designation can be difficult,particularly when several striae are missing. Therefore, it is important
to become familiar with the position of each stria before using theidentification keys. Interestingly, the numbering of the dorsal striae inthe Histeridae starts with the most lateral stria, or the one farthestfrom the suture. In other groups of Coleoptera, the numbering is
usually done the opposite way. The fact that in the Histeridae themedial striae are more frequently absent than the lateral striae justifies
such a numbering system.
The surface of the elytron between dorsal striae 1 and 2 is calledinterval 1, that between striae 2 and 3 interval 2, etc. The area
between the sutural stria and suture is designated as the suturalinterval. In many species of Saprininae, the periscutellar area isalmost smooth, being covered only with micropunctures or punctules,
and contrasts with the surrounding area, which is covered withcoarser punctures. This smooth region is the mirror.
Prosternum. This structure is very important in the taxonomy ofHisteridae. The central region, which is usually somewhat prominent,is the prosternal keel (pk). Some species show two pairs of striae on
the keel, the carinal striae, or internal prosternal striae, locatedtoward the middle, and the lateral striae, or external prosternal striae
that, as the name implies, are located lateral to the carinal striae.
Some species of Saprininae also bear a pair of foveae in the anterior
part of the keel, referred to as the preapical foveae. The posterior
region of the keel, located between the anterior coxae, is theprosternal apophysis (pa). The shape of its posterior margin varies
from one group to another, being straight in some taxa, rounded ornotched in others.
Several species of histerids have in front of the prosternal keel a lobe
called the prosternal lobe (pl) which extends laterally. Many species,
in particular the majority of the species of Histerini, have a marginalstria (msa) that borders the anterior margin of the lobe; this stria may
be entire or interrupted at the top or at the base on each side. Some
species also have laterally to the prosternal keel a notch for the
reception of the antennal funicle at rest.
One of the important modifications of the prosternum concerns the
position of the antennal cavity in which the antennal club is held in
repose. This cavity may be located near the anterior angle of theprosternum and be open or partially covered by the lateral extensionof the prosternal lobe. In other instances, the cavity lies just in frontof the anterior coxa or encroaches on the prosternal keel. Finally, insome species the cavity is located on the hypomeron (hy), which is
the inflexed part of the pronotum.
Mesosternum and metasternum. The mesosternum (mst) of histerids
is short. It is separated from the metasternum by the mesometasternal suture (ms), which in some species is poorly defined oreven absent as in species of Plegaderus; we used the term mesometasternal plate to designate the structure formed by the fusion of
the mesosternum and the metasternal disc. In most species, themesosternum has a marginal stria (msb) that borders the lateral andanterior margins; this stria may be interrupted at the middle or absent
along the anterior margin. Lateral to the mesosternum is the middle
coxa (c2) and the mesepimeron (msp).
In several species, the metasternum (mt) bears on each side a lateral
stria (lsm) which may be straight and more or less abbreviated in theposterior region or regularly curved and extended laterally toward themesepimeral or metepisternal suture. In species with straight lateral
stria, the disc of the metasternum is the region medial to that stria andthe lateral portion of the metasternum is the region lateral to that stria.
Some species also have a stria that borders the posterior margin of themesocoxal cavity from the midpoint; this stria is the postcoxal stria(ps). The metasternum is bordered laterally by the metepisternum(mpt) and in its posterior region by the metepimeron (mtp) and thehind coxa (c3). In some species, the metepisternum and sometimes
the metepimeron bear a lateral longitudinal stria.
Legs. The legs offer a few good taxonomic characters. The number ofdenticles on the lateral margin of the tibia may vary from species tospecies; nevertheless this characters has been rarely used because
their number and size may vary within a species or they may be wornin old specimens. The majority of histerids have on the dorsal face ofthe front tibia a tarsal groove in which the tarsus is held at rest. The
shape of this groove may be taxonomically useful.
Abdomen. The abdomen offers few structural modifications useful inhisterid taxonomy except for punctation on the propygidium (pp) andpygidium (py). In a few species, the pygidium bears a marginal stria
or groove; in some species the surface shows a network of irregularfissures.
Genitalia. The aedeagus of the male is formed by the tegmen and the
median lobe. In histerids, the tegmen is divided into a basal region,
called the basal piece, and an apical region formed by the parameres,
which are usually fused at the base on the dorsal side and along their
entire length on the ventral side. In repose, the median lobe issurrounded by the tegmen. In many species, the median lobe isformed by a long, narrow and poorly sclerotized tube, but in theHisterini it becomes more complex and sometimes bears on thedorsum an armature, the shape of which is often useful for species
separation.
Surface sculpture. Most structures of histerids are punctate, being
covered with punctures or very small pits. The punctation is qualified
as fine, moderately fine, intermediate, moderately coarse and coarse.
These qualifying terms are used to establish comparisons between
various structures of a species. In many instances, some structures ofthe body are covered with very small, microscopic punctures; in suchcases, the surface is said to be punctulate and these micropunctures
are called punctules. The punctures are umbilicate when each has asmall protuberance inside and simple when they do not have such a
protuberance. The surface of the body may be reticulate, i.e. covered
with a network of microlines (microsculpture) or aciculate, i.e.
covered with more or less longitudinal microlines like scratches madewith a needle.

Illustrated Key to Histerid beetles Associated with

Introduction
Livestock Dung in Canada
List of species treated
Method of citation
References
1. Prosternum with lateral notch receiving antennal funicle in repose
Morphology(Fig. 5)................................................... 2
Identification key
Treatment of species
Acknowledgments- Prosternum without lateral notch (Fig. 6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2. Prosternum with deep basal groove receiving long apical spine offront tibia. Prosternum with anterior lobe (Dendrophilinae).
Surface with micropunctation set in series of 3 aligned punctules. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xestipyge conjunctum (Say)- Prosternum without basal groove. Prosternum without anterior
lobe. Surface with micropunctation not set in series of 3 aligned
punctules................................................... 3
3. Elytra without distinct striae. Antennal cavities free, notencroaching upon prosternal keel. Pronotum with an antescutellar-stria at base. Less than 1.5 mm in length (Abraeinae). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Acritus nigricornis (Hoffmann)
Elytra with dorsal and/or sutural striae present. Antennal cavities
situated next to and encroaching upon prosternal keel in most
species. Body larger, more than 1.6 mm in length (Saprininae)................................................... 4

4. Prosternum without preapical foveae (Fig. 7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Saprinus Erichson), 5- Prosternum with pair of preapical foveae in anterior region (Fig.
8)................................................... 9
5. Hypomeron with setae. Whole body except appendages withbright green or bluish-green lustre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saprinus profusus Casey- Hypomeron without noticeable setae. Body without green luster................................................... 6
6. Pronotum, in dorso-lateral view, with lateral bead about same
width from base to apex
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
- Pronotum, in dorso-lateral view, with lateral bead distinctly (atleast 2-3 times) wider at base than at apex................................................... 8
7. Coarsely punctured area of elytra distinctly aciculate, without
extension medially along the sutural stria; punctures separated on
average by less than their diameter. Elytral interval 1 densely andcoarsely punctate, intervals 2 and 3 at least partially punctate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saprinus lugens Erichson- Coarsely punctured area of elytra not aciculate (except near apicalmargin), with short forward extension medially along sutural
stria; punctures sparser, separated on average by more than theirdiameter. Elytral interval 1 more sparsely and finely punctate,intervals 2 and 3 not or hardly punctate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saprinus subnitescens Bickhardt
8. Elytral mirror extended at least to dorsal stria 2 in most
specimens; interval 1 usually finely and sparsely punctate in basal
half. Elytron with sutural stria more or less erased in basal fourthor fifth in some specimens. Apical pigmented area of ventral
surface of male eight abdominal segment less extended (Fig. 9). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saprinus oregonensis J.E. LeConte- Elytral mirror not quite reaching dorsal striae 2 laterally in most
specimens; interval 1 usually more coarsely punctate. Elytron
with sutural stria impressed anteriorly. Apical pigmented area ofventral surface of male eight abdominal segment more extended(Fig. 10)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saprinus distinguendus Marseul
9. Hypomeron with hairs. Prosternum with carinal striae not joining
lateral striae but extending very close and more or less parallel tolateral striae up to preapical foveae.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Xerosaprinus Wenzel), 10- Hypomeron without hairs. Prosternum with carinal striae joininglateral striae.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Euspilotus Lewis), 11
10. Elytron with mirror sharply delimited posteriorly, the demarcationline oblique; punctures behind coarse, dense, subcontiguous ornearly so; sutural interval with row of very fine punctules, most ofthem in basal half larger than punctules in mirror; interval 2 withmostly moderately coarse to coarse punctures in most specimens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xerosaprinus lubricus (J.L. LeConte)- Elytron with mirror less clearly delimited posteriorly, thedemarcation line rather transversal; punctures behind smaller,
sparser, not subcontiguous; sutural interval stria with row ofpunctules of same size as those in mirror; interval 2 with only or
mostly fine punctures in most specimens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Xerosaprinus acilinea (Marseul)
11. Prosternum with preapical foveae connected by shallow
transverse sulcus, separating the prosternal keel from the apex.
Pygidium without sulcus. Pronotum without impression behindeach anterior angle. Less than 2.5 mm in length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euspilotus scrupularis (J.E. LeConte)- Prosternum with preapical foveae isolated, not connected bytransverse sulcus. Pygidium with marginal sulcus, interrupted atapex in males. Pronotum with shallow but distinct impression
behind each anterior angle. More than 3.3 mm in length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Euspilotus assimilis (Paykull)
12. Labrum without setigerous punctures (Histerinae). Pronotum andelytra not costate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
- Labrum with setigerous punctures (Onthophilinae). Pronotum andelytra with strong costae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Onthophilus Leach), 36
13. Anterior margin of mesosternum bisinuate, with short medianprojection fitting into posterior margin of prosternum (Fig. 11).
Less than 2.6 mm in length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phelister subrotundus (Say)- Anterior margin of mesosternum straight or emarginate (Figs. 12,
13). More than 3.3 mm in length. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
14. Anterior margin of mesosternum straight or very slightly rounded(Fig. 12). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Atholus Thomson), 15- Anterior margin of mesosternum emarginate, sometimes feebly so(Fig. 13)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
15. Pronotum with a depression on each side near anterior angle.
Metepimeron with a short punctate lateral stria. Elytron blackwith a large reddish lateroposterior area
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atholus bimaculatus (Linné)- Pronotum without depression on each side near anterior angle.
Metepimeron without lateral stria. Elytron uniformly black.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

16. Elytron with 2 subhumeral striae, the inner one present in apicalhalf, the outer one complete or nearly so. Pronotum with only one
lateral stria, outer one absent. Metasternum with lateral stria
interrupted posteriorly, the lateral branch separated from thelongitudinal branch. Upper surface of mandible with lateral edge
rounded, not grooved or elevated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atholus sedecimstriatus (Say)- Elytron without complete subhumeral stria, at most with a shortsegment representing the inner subhumeral stria near apex.
Pronotum with 2 lateral striae, inner one complete or nearly so,outer one variable but usually present at least as a striole or adotted segment at the level of the anterior angle. Metasternum
with lateral stria complete, curved in posterior region toward themetepisternal suture. Upper surface of mandible with lateral edge
accentuated by a basal groove more or less abbreviated in front. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Atholus falli (Bickhardt)
17. Pronotal hypomeron with hairs. Elytra reddish with sides andinflexed parts piceous to black. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spilodiscus ulkei (Horn)- Pronotal hypomeron without hairs. Elytra uniformly dark, without
maculations in most species. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
18. Elytron with outer subhumeral stria entire (except in M. obscurusin which the stria is abbreviated apically), inner subhumeral stria
absent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Margarinotus Marseul), 19- Elytron with outer subhumeral stria absent or present in basal half
only; inner subhumeral stria absent or present in apical half
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Hister Linné), 33
19. Pronotum with 2 lateral striae, outer one entire or not. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
- Pronotum with one lateral stria, outer one completely wanting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
20. Pronotum with outer lateral stria abbreviated in basal half,
sometimes reduced to a short segment at level of anterior angle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
- Pronotum with outer lateral stria entire and as long, or almost so,
as inner lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
21. Metepimeron with punctate lateral stria. Pronotum with innerlateral stria broadly arcuate on each side behind anterior angle(Fig. 14)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus hudsonicus (Casey) (in part)- Metepimeron without lateral stria. Pronotum with inner lateral
stria somewhat angulate on each side behind anterior angle (Fig.
15). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
22. Propygidium and pygidium with punctures coarse andconspicuously umbilicate. Elytral striae finely crenulate.

-[Western: British Columbia]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus umbrosus (Casey)
Propygidium and pygidium with punctures slightly finer and lessdistinctly umbilicate. Elytral striae more conspicuously crenulate.
[Eastern: Nova Scotia to Manitoba]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus faedatus (J.E. LeConte) (inpart)

23. Pronotal and elytral discs moderately densely punctate, punctures
fine but distinct even at low magnification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus harrisii (Kirby)- Pronotal and elytral discs sparsely punctate, punctures generally
microscopic and indistinct at low magnification, though coarser
ones may be present in places. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
24. Metasternum with lateral stria not interrupted, rounded or
angulate posteriorly and prolonged to metepisternal suture (Fig.
16). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
- Metasternum with lateral stria interrupted posteriorly, lateral arm
separated, sometimes briefly, from longitudinal arm (Fig. 17). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
25. Elytron with subapical transverse impression between striae 2-4.
Inner lateral stria of pronotum with a distinct sinuosity in basal
half (Fig. 18). Pygidium and propygidium with umbilicate
punctures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus merdarius (Hoffmann)- Elytron without subapical impression or at most with weak
impression. Inner lateral stria of pronotum not distinctly sinuate inbasal half. Pygidium and propygidium with simple punctures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
26. Mesosternum relatively short, ratio width/length at middle about
2.5. Outer lateral stria of pronotum about as far from lateral
margin as from inner stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus immunis (Erichson) (in part)- Mesosternum elongate, ratio width/length at middle about 2.0.
Outer lateral stria of pronotum closer to lateral margin than toinner stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
27. Dorsal stria 5 of elytron usually with short basal appendix (Fig.
19) [Eastern: Québec, Ontario, Manitoba]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus interruptus (Palisot de Beauvois)- Dorsal stria 5 of elytron without basal appendix [Western: British
Columbia]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus rectus (Casey) (in part)
28. Mesosternum relatively short, ratio width/length at middle about
2.5. Body not particularly elongate [Eastern: Québec to Manitoba]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus immunis (Erichson) (in part)- Mesosternum elongate, ratio width/length at middle about 2.0.
Body elongate-oblong [Western: British Columbia]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus rectus (Casey) (in part)29. Elytron with outer subhumeral stria short, erased in apical third; 3
entire dorsal striae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus obscurus (Kugelann)- Elytron with outer subhumeral stria entire; 4 entire dorsal striae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
30. Elytra maculate with reddish (rarely all black). Pronotum without
coarse punctures medial to lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus purpurascens (Herbst)- Elytra without macula. Pronotum usually with coarse punctures
medial to lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
31. Metepimeron with punctate lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus hudsonicus (Casey) (in part)- Metepimeron without lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
32. Prosternal lobe with marginal stria well developed, abbreviatedbasally, interrupted apically in some specimens (Fig. 20). Sizesmaller: 3.4-4.2 mm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus lecontei Wenzel- Prosternal lobe with marginal stria absent or represented by anobsolete apical arc (Fig. 21). Size longer: 4.2-5.8 mm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Margarinotus faedatus (J.E. LeConte) (in part)
33. Elytron with 3 entire dorsal striae, 4th dorsal either abbreviated,intermittent or represented only by a series of dots, sometimes
almost completely wanting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
- Elytron with 4 entire dorsal striae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
34. Lateral stria of metasternum with lateral arm extended to at least
anterior fourth of metepisternal suture. Pygidium with finer andshallower punctures separated from each other on average bymore than 1.5 X their diameter. Distance between inner lateral
stria and outer lateral stria of pronotum usually about 3 X the
distance between outer lateral and marginal striae [Extreme
southern Ontario]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hister depurator Say- Lateral stria of metasternum with lateral arm extended to about
middle of the metasternal suture. Pygidium with coarser anddeeper punctures separated from each other on average by about
their own diameter. Distance between inner and outer lateral
striae of pronotum usually about 4 X the distance between outerand marginal striae [Transcanadian]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hister furtivus J.E. LeConte
35. Elytron with inner subhumeral stria distinct in apical half, outersubhumeral stria distinct in basal half. Metepimeron with acomplete punctate lateral stria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hister abbreviatus Fabricius- Elytron without subhumeral striae or with trace in anterior half.
Metepimeron without lateral stria or with trace only

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hister curtatus J.E. LeConte
36. Metasternum more or less uniformly, coarsely punctate, without
elevated areas; punctures simple. Pronotum with lateral carinae
short, not extended to posterior margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Onthophilus deflectus Helava- Metasternum coarsely punctate but with elevated, minutely
punctate, discal area on each side; punctures each with additional,
small, deep puncture. Pronotum with lateral carinae longer,
reaching posterior margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Onthophilus pluricostatus J.E. LeConte

Treatment of Species

Introduction
Acritus nigricornis (Hoffmann, 1803)
List of species treated
Method of citation
Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from other species of Canadian
References
Acritus as follows: from A. exiguus and A. depressus by the presence
Morphologyof the antescutellar stria at the base of pronotum, and from A. komaiby the lateral metasternal stria recurved forward and forming a
Identification key
Treatment of species regular arch reaching the metasternal-mesepimeral suture.
Acknowledgments
Description. Body form rather regularly rounded and broadly oval,
and dorsal surface quite distinctly convex. Epistome without marginalstriae. Pronotum with punctation fine, rather uniform in size, not or
hardly coarser along midline; base with transverse bisinuate line offine raised tubercles (antescutellar stria). Scutellum very small but
distinct. Elytron with fine punctation; punctures of disc simple inmale, distinctly aciculate in apical half in female. Pygidium without
marginal striae, with very fine, sparse punctures. Prosternal keel
proportionnally short, its lenght distinctly less than twice its width at
middle. Disc of mesosternum convex; meso-metasternal suturereaching lateral mesosternal stria on each side, showing a series ofcoarse punctures giving a crenulate aspect in lateral three fourths,
median fourth arcuate and sometimes less distinctly impressed andcrenulate. Metasternum with punctation in lateral area along
metepisternal suture relatively fine, comparatively finer than on
mesepimeron; lateral stria recurved forward and forming a regulararch reaching metasternal-mesepimeral suture; area between lateralmetasternal suture and post-mesocoxal stria reticulate; metepisternal
suture entire, running from mesepimeron to metepimeron or almost
so. First visible abdominal sternum with post-metacoxal stria straight.
Body length: 0.9-1.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed inEurope, north Africa, Asia Minor, Israel, Crimea, and Turkestan. It
was accidentally introduced in various countries, including Canada
and the United States. We have seen specimens of this species in
Canada from Québec, Alberta and British Columbia (Map 1).
Habitat. In Europe, found in dung, manure, tannery wastes, decaying
mushrooms and under dry leaves (Vienna 1980).
Saprinus profusus Casey, 1893

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Canadian Saprinus by thepresence of short setae on the hypomeron and by the bright green or
bluish-green lustre on most of the body surface.
Description. Upper surface black with bright green or bluish-green
lustre. Front rather sparsely punctate; surface not reticulate. Pronotumwith depression behind each front angle; disc with narrow band ofcoarse punctures laterally, punctures not coalescent; lateral beaddistinctly widened in posterior half. Elytron with coarse punctures
restricted to posteromedial area, reaching about level of stria 2
laterally and about middle of elytra along sutural stria; dorsal striae 14 distinct, punctate; stria 1 not longer than other dorsal striae; stria 4
arched in front and usually united to sutural stria; sutural stria entire
or more or less interrupted in anterior half, rarely almost completely
erased in basal half or third; surface of punctate area not aciculate or
reticulate. Pygidium with lateral margin raised. Hypomeron withshort setae, setae shorter than longest ones on antennal scape.
Prosternum with carinal striae reaching lateral striae at about apicalthird. Mesosternum with coarse punctures. Apex and lateral edge ofhind tibia with conspicuous spines. Ventral surface of male eight
abdominal segment widely emarginate apically; apex of aedeagus
regularly rounded, not dilated. Body length: 3.3-6.6 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species occurs from New York tosouthern Ontario and Manitoba (Map 2), south to Louisiana, west to
Arizona.
Habitat. On carrion (in CNC) and dung. According to our
distributional data, Summerlin et al. (1982) and most of Blume's(1985) records of S. pensylvanicus associated with bovine droppings
undoubtedly refer to S. profusus.
Note. This species has been confused with S. pensylvanicus (Paykull).
The latter species differs from S. profusus by having the lateral
margin of the pygidium not raised and the aedeagus less regularly
curved in lateral view. The two species appear allopatric, S.
pensylvanicus being apparently confined to the Atlantic coast from
Massachusetts to Florida. Its presence in Canada is very unlikely.
Saprinus lugens Erichson, 1834
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. subnitescens but differ mainly by thecoarsely punctured zone of elytra being distinctly aciculate and notextended anteriorly along the sutural striae.
Description. Upper surface black, without lustre. Front sparsely andfinely punctate medioposteriorly, more coarsely and densely
anteriorly and laterally; surface not reticulate. Pronotum with shallow
depression behind each front angle; disc with broad band of coarse
punctures laterally extending from apex to near base; punctures notcoalescent; lateral bead narrow along entire length. Elytral disccoarsely and densely punctate all over except for smooth,parascutellar region delimited by stria 4 medially; males often withintervals 2 and/or 3 more finely and sparsely punctate or at least

partially impunctate; coarsely punctate area usually not quite reaching
middle along sutural stria, without forward extension medially; dorsal
striae 1-4 distinct though stria 3 poorly so in many specimens; stria 4
arched in front, though usually partly so, or not; sutural stria erased
on basal half or third; coarsely punctured area aciculate at least
posteriorly, not reticulate, with punctures separated by less than theirdiameter. Hypomeron without distinct setae. Prosternum with carinal
striae reaching lateral striae at about apical fourth. Mesosternum
usually with coarse punctures at least laterally. Apex and lateral edgeof hind tibia with conspicuous spines. Ventral surface of male eight
abdominal segment not sclerotized apically; aedeagus laterally
constricted before apical part; apex regularly rounded, not dilated.
Body length: 4.8-7.2 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species, originally described from
Mexico, occurs over a large portion of the continent from southern
Québec to British Columbia (Map 3), south to Mexico.
Habitat. Found mainly on carrion and dung.

Saprinus subnitescens Bickhardt, 1909
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. lugens but with the coarsely punctate
zone of elytra not or very narrowly aciculate and extended anteriorly
along the sutural striae.
Description. Same character states as S. lugens except for thefollowing. Pronotum with depression behind each anterior angle
usually more obvious. Elytra with coarsely punctured area extended
shortly forward along sutural stria; coarsely punctured area notaciculate, except at apical margin, with punctures sparser, separated
on average by more than their diameter; interval 1 only partially andmore finely punctate, intervals 2 and 3 smooth or hardly punctate.
Aedeagus much less constricted laterally before apical part. Body
length: 4.9-5.7 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species inhabits Europe, northAfrica, Asia Minor and central Asia; it was accidentally introduced in
North America. It is known in Canada from Québec and Ontario(Map 4).
Habitat. In Europe, associated with carrion, manure, refuse, anddecaying vegetable matter (Vienna 1980).
Saprinus oregonensis J.E. LeConte, 1844
Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other Saprinus treated, except S.
distinguendus, by the widening lateral bead of pronotum in posterior
half. Differentiated with confidence from S. distinguendus by thepattern of sclerotization at apex of the male eight abdominal segment.
Description. Upper surface black, without metallic lustre. Frontrather finely and sparsely punctate medially, more coarsely anddensely at sides; surface not reticulate. Pronotum without or with illdefined depression behind each anterior angle; disc with narrow bandof coarse punctures laterally, not reaching posterior margin; lateralbead distinctly widened in posterior half. Elytral disc with posterior
half coarsely punctate; mirror extended at least to dorsal stria 2 inmost specimens; interval 1 usually finely and sparsely punctate inbasal half; dorsal striae 1-4 distinct, punctate; stria 4 arched in front;
sutural stria more or less erased in basal fourth or fifth in somespecimens, impressed and united with stria 4 in others; surface moreor less distinctly aciculate on part of coarsely punctured area, notreticulate. Hypomeron without distinct setae. Prosternum with carinal
striae reaching lateral striae at about apical third. Mesosternum
usually with coarse punctures at least laterally. Apex and lateral edgeof hind tibia with conspicuous spines. Ventral surface of male eight
abdominal segment with characteristic sclerotized zone at apex (Fig.
9); apex of aedeagus evenly rounded, not dilated. Body length: 3.04.8 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species inhabits the western part ofthe continent, from Manitoba to British Columbia (Map 5) south toCalifornia and New Mexico.
Habitat. According to Hatch (1962: 260), found on carrion and dung.
Saprinus distinguendus Marseul, 1855
Diagnosis. Very similar to S. oregonensis but differing by featureslisted below and particularly the pattern of sclerotization at apex of
the male eight abdominal segment.
Description. Same character states as S. oregonensis except for thefollowing. Pronotum with coarsely punctate area usually moredeveloped. Elytral mirror not quite reaching dorsal striae 2 laterally inmost specimens; interval 1 usually more coarsely punctate; sutural
stria impressed in basal half and united to stria 4. Ventral surface ofmale eight abdominal segment with a different pattern ofsclerotization at apex (Fig. 10). Body length: 3.2-4.8 mm.
Geographical Distribution. The distribution of this species isincompletely known. We have seen specimens from Québec to
Saskatchewan (Map 6) in Canada and from Michigan, Minnesota andNorth Dakota in the United States.
Habitat. On carrion and dung.
Euspilotus scrupularis (J.E. LeConte, 1859)
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Euspilotus present in Canada by
the preapical foveae of the prosternum being connected by atransverse sulcus. Along with E. scissus, this is the smallest species ofEuspilotus present in Canada (length less than 2.5 mm).

Description. Head piceous, pronotum and elytra dark reddish brown.
Front moderately coarsely punctate. Pronotum with fine, sparsepunctures on disc and coarser ones laterally; side without impression
behind anterior angle. Elytra with moderately coarse, rather sparse,
punctures on posterior half and with mostly fine, very sparsepunctures on anterior half; dorsal striae 1-4 extended to about middleof elytra; stria 4 arched at base; sutural stria distinct except at basal
fourth or fifth; marginal stria broadly interrupted along posterior
margin. Pygidium with intermediate punctures, most of themseparated by about their diameter; margin without sulcus in both
sexes. Preapical foveae on prosternum connected by shallow
transverse sulcus separating the prosternal keel from the apex.
Metasternal disc with more or less coarse punctures in eachanterolateral corner and posteriorly along apical margin; postmesocoxal stria long, ending close to mesepimeron. Body length: 1.82.2 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species was originally describedfrom Georgia; we have seen specimens only from Texas, Arizona,
Utah, California and Washington. It was also reported fromsoutheastern British Columbia, Idaho and Oregon by Hatch. We havenot seen any specimen from Canada.
Habitat. Found in dung (Hatch 1962: 262).
Euspilotus assimilis (Paykull, 1811)
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Euspilotus present in Canada by
the shallow impression behind each anterior angle of the pronotum.
The pygidium bears a marginal sulcus, which is interrupted at apex in
the males.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Front with intermediatepunctures. Pronotum with punctules on disc, with moderately coarse
to coarse punctures laterally, and with fine punctures along lateral
margin; side with broad, shallow impression behind anterior angle.
Elytra with coarse punctures behind striae, reaching about level ofdorsal stria 2 laterally and about middle of elytra or slightly less along
sutural stria; surface between dorsal striae with very fine punctures;
dorsal striae well impressed, crenulate; dorsal striae 1 and 2 extended
beyond middle, dorsal striae 3 and 4 extended to about middle orslightly beyond; dorsal stria 4 arched in front and united to sutural
stria; sutural stria deeply impressed basally but interrupted near apex;
marginal stria broadly interrupted along posterior margin. Pygidiumwith coarse punctures in anterior half, most of them separated on
average by less than their diameter; apex distinctly more finely
punctate in male than in female; margin with sulcus in posterior half,interrupted at apex in male. Preapical foveae of prosternum large,
without associated depression or sulcus. Metasternal disc withmoderately coarse punctures along posterior margin and lateral stria;
post-mesocoxal stria long, ending close to mesepimeron. Body
length: 3.5-5.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed ineastern North America, from New Brunswick to Manitoba (Map 7)

south to Texas.
Habitat. Found on carrion and dung.
Xerosaprinus lubricus (J.L. LeConte, 1851)
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Canadian Xerosaprinus by the
sharply delimited elytral mirror.
Description. Head black, pronotum reddish brown at sides, piceouson disc, elytra reddish brown in most specimens with mirrors andadjacent areas darker, more or less piceous. Disc of pronotum andelytra without microsculpture. Front moderately coarsely punctate.
Pronotum with very fine punctures on most of disc and coarse
punctures on sides and along posterior margin. Elytron with mirror
sharply delimited posteriorly, the posterior demarcation line rather
oblique; punctures behind mirror and dorsal striae coarse, dense,
subcontiguous or nearly so; surface between suture and sutural stria
with row of punctules, most of them in basal half slightly larger thanthose in mirror; interval 2, in some specimens also interval 3, withmostly moderately coarse to coarse punctures in most specimens;
dorsal striae 1-4 reaching about middle of elytra or slightly beyond,fourth arched and joining sutural stria; sutural stria entire. Pygidium
densely, coarsely punctate in anterior half, punctures separated on
average by half their diameter or less. Prosternum with carinal striae
sinuate and more or less parallel to lateral striae on anterior half.
Mesosternum with moderately coarse punctures. Metasternal disc ofmale on average with coarser punctures along middle on posteriorhalf, without protuberances near posterior margin at middle. Body
length: 2.4-4.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed inwestern North America from southern British Columbia (Map 8)
south to California and Texas.
Habitat. Found in dung and carrion (Hatch 1962: 262).
Xerosaprinus acilinea (Marseul, 1862)
Diagnosis. Most similar to X. lubricus but differs by features listed
below, in particular by the less sharply delimited elytral mirrors andthe sparser, not subcontiguous punctures behind the mirrors.
Description. Same character states as X. lubricus except for thefollowing. Elytron with mirror less clearly delimited posteriorly, theposterior demarcation line transversal; punctures behind mirror anddorsal striae smaller, sparser, not subcontiguous; surface between
suture and sutural stria with row of punctules of same size as those in
mirror in basal half; intervals 2 and 3 with only or mostly finepunctures in most specimens. Body length: 2.5-3.8 mm.
Geographical Distribution This species ranges over western North
America from western Manitoba to central British Columbia (Map 9)

south to California and Texas.
Habitat. According to Hatch (1962: 262, as Saprinus fimbriatus), thisspecies is found in dung and carrion. Found in cow dung by theauthor.
Note. Adults of this species has often been referred to as X. fimbriatus(J.L. LeConte) in the literature and in collections. Xerosaprinus
fimbriatus resembles X. acilinea but can be distinguished by thefollowing character states: setae of margin of hypomeron and on
lateral parts of thorax and abdomen distinctly longer and finer; setaeon lateral edge of hind tibia longer; elytron with mirror larger andmore finely punctulate, often less sharply delimited posteriorly;
prosternal carinal stria comparatively more distant from lateral stria
and straighter in its anterior section.

Xestipyge conjunctum (Say, 1825)
Diagnosis. Differs most readily from the other species of Xestipyge
known for Canada, X. geminatus, by the sparser punctation on themetasternum laterally.
Description. Pronotum and elytra dark reddish brown to black, rather
shining. Pronotum, in addition to punctules, with rather fine punctures
on disc, these slightly coarser laterally. Elytra with 5 dorsal striae,
striae 1-4 entire or nearly so, wide, rather deep, fifth erased in basal
half or basal third, generally more superficial than striae 1-4; sutural
stria rather superficial, erased in basal third, often represented only bya row of punctures in basal two-thirds; inner subhumeral stria at leastdistinct in posterior half; intervals flat; coarse punctures few, usuallylimited to small area between fourth dorsal and sutural striae.
Pygidium of male with deep V-shaped sulcus just posterior to middle.
Metasternum, laterally to lateral stria, with intermediate punctures,
separated on average by more than half their diameter.
Body length: 2.2-2.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species ranges in eastern North
America, from southern Ontario (Map 10) south to Texas.
Habitat. Some specimens seen from the United States were collectedin tree holes. Blume (1985) reports the association of this species withbovine droppings.
Phelister subrotundus (Say, 1825)
Diagnosis. Readily differenciated from the other species of Phelister
known in Canada, P. vernus, by the presence of a lateral stria on the
pronotum.
Description. Upper surface dark brown to black, posterolateral areaof each elytron reddish. Head with frontal stria distinct laterally,interrupted at middle. Pronotum with uniform, fine punctation mixed
with coarser punctures laterally on disc and along posterior margin;
lateral stria entire or nearly so, close to lateral margin, clearly curved
medially at level of anterior angle but not prolonged along anterior
margin; prescutellar area with shallow rounded fovea smaller thanscutellum. Elytron with dorsal striae 1-4 entire; stria 5 entire in many
specimens, sometimes interrupted or feebly impressed in basal third;
sutural stria distinct in apical half or more; outer subhumeral stria
distinct in apical third. Pygidium with fine punctures more or lessuniformly distributed. Prosternal striae distinct, long, more or lessparallel; surface between striae finely but densely punctate; prosternallobe with marginal stria distinct, not interrupted apically.
Mesosternum with marginal stria entire. Metasternum with 2 lateral,more or less parallel striae, medial one longer, reaching close toposterior coxa.
Body length: 1.8-2.4 mm.
Geographical Distribution. The species ranges over eastern North
America, from southern Québec and Ontario (Map 11) south toTexas.
Habitat. Available data suggest that the species is found in various
microhabitats including carcasses, dung, litter, compost, mushrooms
and under the bark of dead trees.
Margarinotus harrisii (Kirby, 1837)
Diagnosis. Differs from other species of the genus found in Canada
by having the punctules of the pronotum and elytra coarser anddistinct at low magnification.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny; disc of pronotum and elytra
moderately densely punctate, punctures fine but distinct even at low
magnification. Pronotum with 2 lateral striae, outer one entire, inner
one often with sinuosity; marginal stria entire; disc with or without
coarser punctures along inner striae. Elytron with 4 entire dorsal
striae although stria 4 is usually slightly abbreviated at base; dorsal
stria 5 and sutural restricted to apical third or half, 5th often withshort, basal appendix; apex usually without transverse impression
between striae 2-4, in some specimens with weak impression.
Pygidium more or less densely punctate in anterior half, punctures
usually separated on average by their diameter or less; surface
between punctures reticulate. Prosternal lobe rounded at apex;
marginal stria entire. Metasternum with lateral stria usuallycontinuous and rounded posteriorly, rarely interrupted in someindividuals; metepimeron with punctate lateral stria. Median lobe
(Fig. 22) of aedeagus narrowly spoon-shaped (dorsal view); medianarmature small. Body length: 4.0-6.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed over
the United States and southern Canada, from Québec to British
Columbia (Map 12).

Habitat. Blatchley (1910: 605) reports that this species "occurs
principally in cows' dung" in Indiana and that it is "frequent beneathchunks on beach of Lake Michigan".
Margarinotus interruptus (Palisot de Beauvois, 1818)
Diagnosis. Very similar to M. rectus but most specimens can bedifferentiated by the presence of a short basal appendix at level of
elytral dorsal stria 5 and by the fact that they are less elongate. Bothspecies are also widely allopatric.
Description.Body rather elongate, upper surface black, shiny.
Pronotum with 2 lateral striae, outer one entire, inner one regularly
curved or with week sinuosity; marginal stria entire, rarely more orless abbreviated near base; disc without coarser punctures near innerlateral stria. Elytron with 4 dorsal striae entire; stria 5 and sutural
restricted to apical third or half, 5th usually with a short basal
appendix sometimes represented by a series of punctures; apex
without transverse impression or at most with very weak impression
between striae 2-4. Pygidium sparsely punctate on anterior half,
punctures usually separated on average by more than their diameter.
Prosternal lobe rounded at apex; marginal stria entire. Mesosternum
rather elongate, width/length at middle about 2.0. Metasternum withlateral stria not interrupted, rounded posteriorly and prolonged tometepisternal suture; metepimeron with punctate lateral stria, thissometimes very short and restricted to anterior half. Median lobe (Fig.
23) of aedeagus narrowly spoon-shaped (dorsal view); medianarmature small. Body length: 5.2-8.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. The species ranges from New
Brunswick to southern Saskatchewan (Map 13) south at least to
Massachusetts and Illinois.
Habitat. Found in decaying matter such as litter, dung, and carcasses.
Margarinotus rectus (Casey, 1916)
Diagnosis. Most similar to M. interruptus but differ by the absence ofbasal appendix at level of the elytral dorsal stria 5 and by its moreelongate body form.
Description. Form elongate, sides subparallel; upper surface black,shiny. Frontal stria entire. Pronotum with 2 entire lateral striae; inner
stria usually with slight sinuosity; marginal stria entire; punctation
microscopic, without coarser punctures medial to inner lateral stria.
Elytron with 4 entire dorsal striae, or 4th slightly abbreviated in front;
5th and sutural restricted to apical third or half; stria 5 without basal
appendix in most specimens; apex without transverse impression.
Pygidium rather sparsely punctate, most punctures on anterior half
separated on average by their diameter or slightly more; surface
between punctures reticulate. Prosternal lobe more or less rounded atapex; marginal stria entire, rarely briefly interrupted at apex.
Mesosternum elongate, ratio width/length about 2.0. Metasternum
with lateral stria interrupted distally, lateral arm separated, often

shortly, from longitudinal arm; metepimeron with punctate lateral
stria. Median lobe of aedeagus narrowly spoon-shaped (dorsal view);
median armature small. Body length: 5.8-7.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. Originally described from Kansas, thespecies is known also from Idaho, Oregon, Washington and southern
British Columbia (Map 13).
Habitat. Found in dung (Hatch 1962: 273).
Margarinotus immunis (Erichson, 1834)
Diagnosis. Most similar to M. interruptus but differs by the shorter
mesosternum.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae, outer one entire, inner one regularly curved, sometimes with afaint sinuosity in basal half; marginal stria entire; punctation
microscopic, usually without coarser punctures along inner stria.
Elytron with 4 dorsal striae entire or nearly so, dorsal 4 usuallyslightly erased at base; dorsal stria 5 restricted to apical half or third,
without basal appendix; sutural stria often very short and restricted toapical third or absent; apex usually without transverse impression
between striae 2-4, rarely with faint impression. Pygidium with
punctures relatively sparse, most of them separated on average by 1-2
times their diameter. Prosternal lobe rounded at apex; marginal stria
usually entire, sometimes interrupted at apex. Metasternum withlateral stria usually interrupted distally, rarely ininterrupted;
metepimeron usually with punctate lateral stria, rather short in somespecimens. Median lobe (Fig. 24) of aedeagus spoon-shaped (dorsalview); median armature moderately long. Body length: 5.5-7.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species ranges over eastern North
America from Prince Edward Island to central Saskatchewan (Map14) south to Florida.
Habitat. A few specimens seen were collected in forest litter and in
carrion.
Margarinotus hudsonicus (Casey, 1893)
Diagnosis. Distinguished from most of the related species by theinterrupted lateral stria of metasternum in combination with thepresence of a punctate lateral stria on the metepimeron.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum usually with 2
lateral striae; outer stria erased in basal third or two-thirds, sometimes
entirely absent; inner stria broadly arcuate on each side behindanterior angle and without sinuosity; marginal stria usually entire,
sometimes more or less erased in basal third; punctation microscopic,
in some specimens with a few coarser punctures medial to innerlateral stria. Elytron with 4 entire dorsal striae, fifth and sutural
restricted to apical third, rarely to apical half; dorsal stria 5 withoutbasal appendix; apex often with slight transverse impression between
striae 2-4. Pygidium with rather dense punctures on anterior half,
most of them separated on average by less than their diameter;surface between punctures reticulate. Prosternal lobe more or lesstruncate at apex; marginal stria of variable length, usually abbreviatedin basal area, often erased at apex. Metasternum with lateral stria
interrupted distally, lateral arm separated, often shortly, fromlongitudinal arm; metepimeron with punctate lateral stria. Median
lobe (Fig. 25) of aedeagus spoon-shaped (dorsal view); medianarmature moderately long, most similar to that of M. immunis. Body
length: 5.2-7.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species inhabits eastern North
America, from Nova Scotia to Manitoba (Map 15) south at least toWest Virginia and Indiana.
Habitat. Found in decaying mushrooms, carrion and excrements.
Margarinotus merdarius (Hoffmann, 1803)
Diagnosis. Differs from the related species by the inner lateral stria ofpronotum markedly sinuate in basal half in combination with thelateral stria of metasternum uninterrupted and the presence ofsubapical impression on the elytra.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae, outer one entire, inner one with strong sinuosity in basal half;
marginal stria entire; disc usually with a few coarser punctures along
inner lateral stria. Elytron with 4 dorsal striae entire or nearly so;
dorsal stria 5 and sutural restricted to apical half, dorsal 5 withoutbasal appendix; apex with transverse impression between striae 2-4.
Pygidium rather densely punctate in anterior half, punctures usually
separated on average by less than their diameter; punctures on
propygidium and pygidium ombilicate. Prosternal lobe rounded atapex; marginal stria interrupted at apex. Metasternum with lateral
stria not interrupted, rounded posteriorly and prolonged tometepisternal suture; metepimeron with punctate lateral stria, often
interrupted. Median lobe (Fig. 26) of aedeagus tubular (dorsal view),
with spiniform projection in subapical dorsal region; median armature
moderately long. Body length: 6.0-8.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed overthe Palaearctic Region; it was accidentally introduced into North
America. In Canada, it occurs from Nova Scotia to eastern Manitoba
and from central Alberta to British Columbia (Map 16).
Habitat. In Europe, found in dung, fungi, compost, decaying
vegetable matter as well as in henhouses and nests of birds (Vienna
1980).
Margarinotus purpurascens (Herbst, 1792)
Diagnosis. Differs from other Canadian Margarinotus by the ill-defined macula on the posterior half of the elytron.
Description. Upper surface black, elytron with reddish, ill-defined
macula on posterior half between about striae 1-5. Pronotum withsingle lateral stria, often slightly sinuate in posterior half; marginalstria erased at base; punctation microscopic, without coarser
punctures medial to lateral stria. Elytron with 4 dorsal striae entire or
nearly so; striae 1-3 fine, nearly smooth, feebly crenulate; stria 5 andsutural restricted to apical third or half; 5th without basal appendix;
apex without transverse impression. Pygidium coarsely punctate inanterior half, most punctures separated on average by less than theirdiameter. Prosternal lobe rounded; marginal stria entire, rarely
narrowly interrupted at apex. Metasternum with lateral stria
interrupted distally, lateral arm separated from longitudinal arm;
metepimeron without punctate lateral stria. Median lobe of aedeagus
tubular, with spiniform projection in subapical dorsal region; basal
apodemes very short; median armature moderately long. Body length:3.5-4.1 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed overthe Palaearctic Region; it has been accidentally introduced in North
America, notably in extreme southwestern British Columbia.
Habitat. In Europe found in dung, particularly that of bovine, under
decaying vegetable matters and in fox burrows (Vienna 1980).
Margarinotus umbrosus (Casey, 1893)
Diagnosis. Most similar to M. faedatus and M. lecontei but differs by
the coarsely umbilicate punctures of the propygidium and pygidium;
specimens of M. umbrosus can also be differentiated from most
specimens of these two species by the presence of two lateral striae
on the pronotum.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae; outer one abbreviated in basal third or more but rarely present
only as a short segment near level of anterior angle, stria clearlycloser to lateral margin than to inner stria, inner lateral stria without
sinuosity, somewhat angulate at level of anterior angle; marginal stria
incomplete, erased in basal third or half; punctation microscopic,
usually with some coarser punctures along inner lateral stria. Elytron
with dorsal striae 1-3 entire; stria 4 usually erased in basal third or
half, more rarely nearly entire; dorsal stria 5 restricted to apical third,
without basal appendix; sutural stria restricted to apical third or half;
apex without transverse inpression in some individuals, with weak
impression between striae 2-4 in others. Pygidium densely coarsely
punctate, most punctures separated on average by half their diameteror less; punctures on propygidium and pygidium strongly umbilicate.
Prosternal lobe rounded at apex; marginal stria absent or present as ashort apical arc. Metasternum with lateral stria interrupted distally,
lateral arm separated from longitudinal arm; metepimeron without
lateral stria. Median lobe of aedeagus tubular (dorsal view), withspiniform projection in subapical dorsal region; median armature
moderately long. Body length: 4.0-6.0 mm.

Geographical Distribution. This species ranges over western North
America from Alberta and British Columbia (Map 17) south toCalifornia, east to Idaho and Montana.
Habitat. Hatch (1962: 273) reports that this species is found on
carrion, sometimes in dung.
Margarinotus faedatus (J.E. LeConte, 1845)
Diagnosis. Most similar to M. lecontei but differs by the marginalstria of prosternum poorly developed, or absent, and larger size.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 1 or 2 lateral
striae; outer one erased in basal third or two-thrids, in somespecimens completely erased, inner one regularly curved or with aweak sinuosity, slightly angulate at level of anterior angle; marginalstria incomplete, erased in basal third or half; punctation microscopic,
usually with coarser punctures along inner lateral stria. Elytron with 4
dorsal striae entire although 4th is usually slightly abbreviated atbase; dorsal stria 5 and sutural restricted to apical third or half; 5th
dorsal stria without basal appendix; apex without transverse
impression in some individuals, with weak impression between striae
2-4 in others. Propygidium with punctures slightly coarser than on
pygidium. Pygidium densely punctate, most punctures separated on
average by clearly less than their diameter; punctures on propygidium
and pygidium umbilicate. Prosternal lobe rounded at apex; marginalstria absent, sometimes with small arc at apex. Metasternum withlateral stria interrupted distally, lateral arm separated fromlongitudinal arm; metepimeron without lateral stria. Median lobe
(Fig. 27) of aedeagus tubular (dorsal view), with large, dorsal,
spiniform projection in subapical region and 2 adjoining, small,lateral projections; median armature moderately long. Body length:4.2-5.8 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species occurs over eastern North
America, from Nova Scotia to Ontario (Map 18) south to Georgia andTexas.
Habitat. Found in decaying organic matters such as carrion, dung,
and rotten mushrooms.
Margarinotus lecontei Wenzel, 1944
Diagnosis. Very similar to M. faedatus but differs by features listed
below.
Description. Similar to M. faedatus but differing by the following
character states. Pronotum with single lateral stria which is moreangulate at level of anterior angle; surface between lateral stria andmarginal stria more convex. Propygidium with punctures distinctly
coarser than on pygidium. Marginal stria of prosternal lobe distinct
but abbreviated on each side. Median lobe (Fig. 28) of aedeagus
usually with spiniform projection situated farther from apex andwithout adjoining small spines. Body length: 3.4-4.2 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is found in eastern North
America, from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan (Map 19) south toGeorgia and Texas.
Habitat. As for the preceding species, found in carrion, dung andparticularly rotten mushrooms.

Margarinotus obscurus (Kugelann, 1792)
Diagnosis. Differs from all other Margarinotus species found in
Canada by the incomplete outer subhumeral stria of the elytron.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with single lateral
stria; marginal stria entire; surface between lateral stria and marginalstria convex; punctation microscopic without coarser punctures along
lateral stria. Elytron with dorsal striae 1-3 entire, dorsal 4 short,
restricted to apical fourth, sometimes to apical third; dorsal stria 5very short and occasionnally absent, without basal appendix; sutural
stria usually distinct in apical half or less; outer subhumeral stria
abbreviated posteriorly, often restricted to basal two-thirds or half;
apex with week transverse impression between striae 2-4 or without
impression. Pygidium coarsely punctate, most punctures separated on
average by slightly less than their diameter; punctures on
propygidium and pygidium not umbilicate. Prosternal lobe slightly
rounded or more or less truncate at apex; marginal stria entire.
Metasternum with lateral stria interrupted distally, lateral arm
separated from longitudinal arm; metepimeron without lateral stria.
Median lobe of aedeagus tubular, slightly flattened; median armature
rather long, narrow, almost parallel-sided and rather flat. Body length:5.0-5.8 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed overthe Palaearctic Region; it has been accidentally introduced in North
America where it is known from southwestern British Columbia,
Oregon and Illinois (Mazur 1997).
Habitat. In Europe found in dung, carrion, rotten mushrooms and infox borrows (Vienna 1980).
Hister furtivus J.E. LeConte, 1859
Diagnosis. Along with H. depurator, this species is easily recognizedby its truncate ( ) or emarginate ( ) prosternal lobe. Most readily
distinguished from H. depurator by the shorter lateral stria ofmetasternum and coarser and deeper punctures on pygidium.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae, inner one entire or nearly so, outer one usually erased inposterior half or third, rarely entire; distance between lateral striae

usually about 4 X as wide as distance between outer lateral andmarginal striae. Elytron with 3 entire and weakly crenulate dorsal
striae; dorsal stria 4 restricted to apical half, rarely extended inanterior half as interrupted series of short segments or punctures; stria
5 restricted to apical fourth or so; sutural stria usually distinct inapical half or third; inner subhumeral stria absent or represented inapical region by short segment or series of punctures; outersubhumeral stria absent or represented by short series of puncturesnear middle; apex with transverse impression between striae 2-4.
Pygidium moderately coarsely punctate, most punctures on anterior
half separated on average by about their diameter; surface between
punctures markedly reticulate. Prosternal lobe truncate in female,marginal stria usually entire, sometimes interrupted at apex; lobe
emarginate in male, median part with adjoining small projection oneach side, marginal stria more or less distinct at apex. Metasternum
with lateral stria not interrupted, rounded posteriorly and prolonged
laterally to about middle of metepisternal suture; metepimeron withor without lateral stria. Lateroapical projection of front tibia with 2
denticles. Body length: 5.5-8.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species ranges from Nova Scotia tocentral British Columbia (Map 20) south to North Carolina andArizona.
Habitat. Found in carrion, dung, rotting mushrooms and compost.
Hister depurator Say, 1825
Diagnosis. Most similar to H. furtivus but differentiated by featureslisted below.
Description. Same character states as H. furtivus except for thefollowing. Distance between inner and outer lateral striae of
pronotum usually about 3 X as wide as distance between outer andmarginal striae. Elytra with dorsal stria 4 not reaching middle,
consisting of series of 7-12 dots or dashes; dorsal 5 reduced to 1-6
dots in the apical area. Punctation of pygidium usually finer, sparser,
and more superficial. Lateral stria of metasternum with lateral arm
extended to at least anterior fourth of metepisternal suture. Body
length: 5,9-7,8 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species ranges over eastern North
America from southern Ontario south to Florida and Oklahoma. It is
known in Canada from a single record in southern Ontario.
Habitat. Blume (1985) reports its association with bovine droppings.
Probably to be found in decaying organic matters as H. furtivus.
Hister abbreviatus Fabricius, 1775
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Canadian species of Hister by
the distinctive inner and outer subhumeral striae on the elytron.

Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae, inner one entire, outer one erased in posterior half or so.
Elytron with 4 entire and distinctly crenulate dorsal striae; dorsal stria
5 usually restricted to apical third or fourth; sutural stria usuallypresent in apical half or so; inner subhumeral stria distinct in apicalhalf, outer subhumeral stria distinct in basal half; apex without
impression between striae 2-4. Pygidium much more finely punctate
than in M. furtivus; surface between punctures smooth. Prosternallobe rounded at apex, marginal stria entire or interrupted at apex.
Metasternum with lateral stria usually interrupted distally, rarely
continuous and prolonged to metepisternal suture; metepimeron with
punctate lateral stria. Lateroapical projection of front tibia with 4-5
denticles. Body length: 4.1-6.0 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species is widely distributed in
North America from New Brunswick to Vancouver Island (Map 21)
south to Mexico.
Habitat. Found in carrion, dung, decaying mushrooms and compost.
Blatchley (1910) noted that the species is common under dead turtles
and fishes along lakes and ponds.
Hister curtatus J.E. LeConte, 1844
Diagnosis. Differ from other species of Hister in Canada, except
some specimens of H. paykullii, by the entire dorsal stria 4 of elytron
in combination with the absence, or nearly so, of the elytral
subhumeral striae. Best distinguished from H. paykullii by the shapeof the tegmen which has no protruding lateral flanges.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Pronotum with 2 lateral
striae, inner one entire, outer one variably developed and erased atleast in posterior half, sometimes limited to a short arc at level ofanterior angle. Elytron with 4 dorsal striae entire and feebly crenulate;dorsal stria 5 usually restricted to apical third or fourth; sutural stria
normally distinct in apical half or third; inner and outer subhumeral
striae absent or represented by weak marks; apex without impression
between striae 2-4. Pygidium more finely punctate than in H.
depurator, punctures separated by more than their diameter; surface
between punctures weakly reticulate. Prosternal lobe rounded at apex,
marginal stria usually entire, rarely interrupted at apex. Metasternum
with lateral stria not interrupted, rounded posteriorly and prolonged tometepisternal suture; metepimeron without lateral stria. Latero-apicalprojection of front tibia with 2 denticles. Body length: 4.8-5.6 mm.
Geographic Distribution. This species ranges over eastern North
America, from Nova Scotia to southeastern Manitoba (Map 22) south
at least to Illinois.
Habitat. Among the specimens studied, two were found in leaf litterand a third one in carrion.

Spilodiscus ulkei (Horn, 1870)
Diagnosis. This species differs from other members of Spilodiscus in
Canada by the combination of femora uniformly black, absence ofstrioles between the lateral striae of the pronotum, and presence of theinner subhumeral stria on the apical third of the elytron.
Description. Head and pronotum piceous to black; elytra with large,boot-shaped, reddish spot, with anterior and posterior marginal areas
and a periscutellar zone from suture to dorsal stria 4 black, inflexedparts black; middle and hind femora entirely piceous to black.
Pronotum with fine, sparse punctures; inner and outer lateral striae
entire, strongly impressed; surface between striae without strioles.
Elytron with dorsal striae 1-3 entire, stria 4 absent to nearly entire,with or without basal appendix; stria 5 very short, restricted to apex
or absent; sutural stria distinct in apical half or more in most
specimens; inner subhumeral stria distinct in apical third or more;outer subhumeral stria visible at middle in some specimens; apex withslight but distinct transverse impression at level of striae 2 and 3 .
Propygidium and pygidium in anterior half with coarse punctures inmost specimens. Anterolateral angles of mesosternum glabrous orwith few setae. Tibia with 2 projections, each with denticle. Body
length: 4.4-5.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. A prairie species, ranging fromsouthwestern Saskatchewan and southern Alberta (Map 23) south to
Mexico.
Habitat. Found in various vertebrate dwellings, such as gopher holes
and nests of western meadowlark, but also in cow dung (Caterino
1998).
Atholus bimaculatus (Linné, 1758)
Diagnosis. Distinguished from other Atholus treated by the large
reddish spot on the elytra and the depression on each side of the
pronotum near the anterior angles.
Description. Upper surface black, elytra with orange or reddish spotcovering the posterolateral area. Upper surface of mandible withlateral edge rounded, not grooved or elevated. Pronotum withuniform, sparse, very fine punctation and a row of coarser punctures
along posterior margin; one lateral stria, erased in basal third and witha distinct sinuosity in anterior part; presence of a depression on eachside near sinuosity of lateral stria. Elytra with very fine, sparsepunctures covering the disk; dorsal striae 1-4 entire, stria 5 not archedin front, entire or slightly abbreviated in front; sutural stria erased inanterior half; subhumeral striae absent. Propygidium with fine, sparsepunctures; pygidium with punctures finer than on propygidium.
Mesepimeron with wide, rather smooth, lateral sulcus. Metasternum
with lateral stria interrupted posteriorly, lateral arm separated fromlongitudinal arm. Metepimeron with a punctate lateral stria. Body
length: 4.0-4.8 mm.

Geographical Distribution. This species is said to be cosmopolite(Vienna 1980); it has been accidentally introduced in various places
in North America. It is known from Québec to Manitoba and from
Alberta and British Columbia in Canada (Map 24).
Habitat. Found in dung and decaying vegetable matter.

Atholus sedecimstriatus (Say, 1825)
Diagnosis. Differs from other Canadian Atholus by the welldeveloped subhumeral striae of the elytra.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Upper surface of mandiblewith lateral edge rounded, not grooved or elevated. Pronotum withvery fine, rather sparse punctation and a row of coarser puncturesnear posterior margin; one lateral stria, entire or nearly so, without
sinuosity in anterior half. Elytra with very fine, sparse punctures ondisc and some coarser ones near posterior margin; dorsal striae 1-5
entire; stria 5 arched in front and usually united to sutural; sutural
stria usually entire, rarely more or less obliterated in front; innersubhumeral stria distinct in posterior half, outer subhumeral stria
entire or nearly so. Propygidium with moderately coarse punctures,
most of them separated on average by slightly more than theirdiameter. Pygidium with fine punctures, contrasting against those of
propygidium. Mesepimeron with narrow, rather coarsely punctate,lateral sulcus. Metasternum with lateral stria interrupted posteriorly,
lateral arm separated from longitudinal arm. Metepimeron without
lateral stria. Body length: 4.2-4.9 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species ranges over eastern North
America, from southern Québec and Ontario (Map 25) south toTexas.
Habitat. Found in decaying organic matter such as compost, dung
and carrion.
Atholus falli (Bickhardt, 1912)
Diagnosis. Most similar to A. americanus and A. perplexus, tworelated species present in Canada, but differs by the more densely
punctate propygidium, the punctures being separated on average byless than their diameter.
Description. Upper surface black, shiny. Upper surface of mandiblewith lateral delineated by a basal groove usually more or less erasedin front. Pronotum with punctules rather obvious and dense and witha row of coarser punctures along posterior margin; two lateral striae,
inner one entire or nearly so, outer one abbreviated at base, usually
distinct on anterior half at least as a short arc or dotted segment nearanterior angle. Elytra with punctules often as obvious as on pronotum,
apex without coarser punctures; dorsal striae 1-5 entire, 5th arched
and united in front to sutural stria; sutural stria entire; subhumeralstriae rarely absent, usually present as an apical segment or dottedline of variable length. Propygidium rather densely punctate, mostpunctures separated on average by less than their diameter. Pygidium
moderately finely punctate, punctures finer but denser than on
propygidium, becoming gradually smaller toward apex. Mesepimeron
with narrow, rather coarsely punctate, lateral sulcus. Metasternum
with lateral stria not interrupted, rounded posteriorly and prolonged tometepisternal suture. Metepimeron without lateral stria. Male
genitalia with ventral surface of tegmen granular in apical region;
subapical region of tegmen, in dorsal view, with sides distinctly
rounded or subangulate; apex rather narrowly rounded. Body length:3.5-4.5 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species was originally describedfrom specimens collected in California and Washington. I have seen
specimens from Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan andAlberta in Canada (Map 26) and from New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota
in the United States.
Habitat. Some of the specimens seen were collected in organic litter.
Onthophilus deflectus Helava, 1978
Diagnosis. Differs readily from O. pluricostatus, the other species inthis genus known for Canada, by the absence of elevated areas on themetasternum and by the shorter lateral carinae on the pronotum.
Description. Upper surface piceous or very dark reddish brown.
Pronotum with lateral sides convergent anteriorly and not reflexed inposterior half; disc with 6 costae; costa 1 (closest to lateral margin)
short, straight, not reaching posterior margin; costae 2 and 3 long,straight, not reaching posterior margin. Elytral costae 2 and 4 morestrongly developed than costae 1, 3 and 5. Pygidium with transverse
sulcus meeting longitudinal one in anterior third. Metasternum
slightly convex, coarsely, rather uniformly punctate, without elevatedarea; punctures shallow, simple. Body length: 1.8-2.2 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species inhabits eastern North
America from southern Ontario south to Mississippi, west to
Nebraska. In Canada, it is known only from three localities insouthern Ontario (Map 27).
Habitat. According to Helava (1978: 4), this species has been foundin dead polypores, leaf litter, tree holes, cow dung, mouse nests andunder carrion.
Onthophilus pluricostatus J.E. LeConte, 1844
Diagnosis. Distinguished from the other Onthophilus in Canada by
the presence of elevated areas on the metasternum and by the longer
lateral carina on the pronotum.

Description. Upper surface piceous or very dark reddish brown.
Pronotum with lateral sides rather distinctly angulate at middle, moreor less parallel in posterior half and convergent in anterior half; lateraledges markedly reflexed; disc with 6 costae; costa 1 moderately longand reaching posterior margin; costa 2 long, reaching near posterior
margin; costa 3 long, not reaching posterior margin. Elytral costae 2
and 4 more strongly developed than costae 1, 3 and 5. Pygidium withboth transverse and longitudinal sulci, longitudinal sulcus long,reaching posterior margin. Metasternum with broad, longitudinal
depression along midline and a triangular, weakly elevated discal area
on each side; punctures on elevated discal areas small, round,shallow; punctures on remaining of metasternum coarse, irregular,
each with additional, small, deep puncture. Body length: 2.3-2.7 mm.
Geographical Distribution. This species occurs in eastern UnitedStates from Michigan and Massachusetts south to Alabama. The
species has not yet been recorded from Canada but is likely to occur
in southern Ontario since it has been collected at Detroit, Michigan.
Habitat. Some of the specimens studied were collected under a dog
carcass, in a fungus and under cow dung.
updated June 2002 by R.B. FairchildFigures