Sphaerites

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Ordo: Coleoptera
Subordo: Polyphaga
Infraordo: Staphyliniformia
Superfamilia: Histeroidea

Familia: Sphaeritidae
Genus: Sphaerites
Species (5): S. dimidiatus – S. glabratus – S. nitidus – S. opacus – S. politus

[source: Newton (2005: 183)]
Name

Sphaerites Duftschmid, 1805

Sphaerites glabratus

References

Löbl, I. 1996: A new species of Sphaerites (Coleoptera: Sphaeritidae) from China. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft, 69(2): 195–200.
Löbl, I.; Háva, J. 2002: A new species of Sphaerites (Coleoptera: Sphaeritidae) from China. Entomological problems, 32(2): 179–181.
Newton, A.F. 2005: 10.2. Sphaeritidae Shuckard, 1839. Pp. 183-186 in: Beutel, R.G. & Leschen, R.A.B. (volume eds.) Coleoptera, Beetles. Volume 1: Morphology and systematics (Archostemata, Adephaga, Myxophaga, Polyphaga partim). In: Kristensen, N.P. & Beutel, R.G. (eds.) Handbook of zoology. A natural history of the phyla of the animal kingdom. Volume IV. Arthropoda: Insecta. Part 38. Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter.

Links

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Nomenclator Zoologicus

Sphaerites is a genus of beetles, the only genus in the family Sphaeritidae, sometimes called the false clown beetles. It is closely related to the clown beetles but with distinct characteristics. There are five known species, widespread in temperate area but not commonly seen.

Adults range in length from 4.5–7 mm, with oval bodies, black but with a slight bluish-green sheen.

The life histories are poorly known, but they are generally found around decaying matter and fungi. S. glabratus is associated with conifer forests in northern Europe, and seems especially attracted to sap flows from trees, feeding and then mating.
Species

These four species belong to the genus Sphaerites:

Sphaerites dimidiatus Jurecek, 1934 i c g
Sphaerites glabratus (Fabricius, 1792) i c g
Sphaerites nitidus Löbl, 1996 i c g
Sphaerites opacus Löbl & Háva, 2002
Sphaerites politus Mannerheim, 1846 i c g b

Data sources: i = ITIS,[1] c = Catalogue of Life,[2] g = GBIF,[3] b = Bugguide.net[4]
References

"Sphaerites Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
"Browse Sphaerites". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
"Sphaerites". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-02.

"Sphaerites Genus: Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-02.

Newton, Alfred F. (2001). "Sphaeritidae". In Arnett, Ross H. Jr. & Thomas, Michael C. (eds.). American Beetles. 1. CRC Press.