Family GEOTRUPIDAE

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Introduction

The Geotrupidae are a cosmopolitan family, comprising about 54 genera and 673 species (Scholtz & Browne 1996). The family is sometimes considered as a subfamily of the Scarabaeidae (Howden 1982) but is here regarded as a distinct family on the basis of the advanced type of aedeagus (reduced penis and enlarged phallobase) and the ovipositor without styli (Lawrence & Newton 1982).

The family is split into three subfamilies. The Holarctic Geotrupinae, comprising 25 genera and 130 species, is represented in Australia only by the introduced Geotrupes spiniger Marsham. The aberrant Taurocerastinae from Chile and Argentina, comprising two genera and three species, are not represented in Australia (Howden 1982). Howden (1982) and Howden & Peck (1987) presented evidence that the Taurocerastinae are phylogenetically indistinguishable from Geotrupinae, but this is categorically rejected by Browne & Scholtz (1999). The Lethrinae with the single genus Lethrus Scopoli, contains 90 species, and occurs in central Asia (Iablokoff-Khnzorian 1977). Zunino (1984) gave the worldwide distribution of the subfamilies and discussed the tribal and generic arrangements of the Geotrupidae. Howden (1955) revised the North American fauna and discussed their biology.

The most recent world catalogue of the family is by Boucomont (1912). Barbero & Palestrini (2003) gave new records for some 20 species already known to occur in Australia.

BIOLOGY
The European geotrupine, Geotrupes spiniger, was released in Australia in 1979 by the CSIRO for the purpose of improving pasture and controlling the bushfly Musca vestutissima (Bornemissza 1979). In contrast to the Bolboceratidae species, the adults and larvae of this species feed on dung. Klemperer (1978, 1979) discussed details of the biology of species including nest construction and larval behaviour.

 

Diagnosis

Geotrupes spiniger is a black, medium to large-sized beetle, 17–25 mm in length. Adults have a highly rounded, hemispherically shaped body, the antennae are 11-segmented with a small club that is about half as long as antennomeres 1–8. Generally, geotrupid adults possess a large mesal brush on the mandible; the prementum and mentum are separate; the second axillary (2Ax) has a dorso-distal ridge apex that is long and curved with the anterior section strongly elongate; 2n does not equal 20 karyotype, and adults provide brood care.
Larvae have 3-segmented antennae, 3-jointed legs and the abdominal apex is rounded posteriorly (Scholtz & Browne 1996; Browne & Scholtz 1999; Jameson 2002).

 

Diagnosis References

Browne, D.J. & Scholtz, C.H. 1999. A phylogeny of the families of Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology 24: 51-84 [74]

Jameson, M.L. 2002. 29. Geotrupidae Latreille 1802. pp. 23-27 in Arnett, R.H., Thomas, M.C., Skelley, P.E. & Frank, J.H. (eds). American Beetles. Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. Boca Raton, Florida : CRC Press Vol. 2 xiv 861 pp. [23]

Scholtz, C.H. & Browne, D.J. 1996. Polyphyly in the Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea): a case for a new family. Journal of Natural History 30: 597-614

 

General References

Barbero, E. & Palestrini, V. 2003. Coleoptera Trogidae, Geotrupidae, Hybosoridae, Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeinae and Dynastinae) collected in Australia. pp. 303-328 in Daccordi, M. & Giachino, P.M. (eds). Results of the Zoological Missions to Australia of the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences of Turin, Italy. I. Monografie del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, 35, 565 pp.

Bornemissza, G.F. 1979. The Australian Dung Beetle Research Unit in Pretoria. South African Journal of Agricultural Science 75: 257-260

Boucomont, A. 1912. Scarabaeidae: Taurocerastinae, Geotrupidae. pp. 1-47 in Schenkling, S. (ed.). Coleopterorum Catalogus. Lucanidae — Passalidae — Scarabaeidae I. Berlin : W. Junk Vol. XIX Pt 46.

Browne, D.J. & Scholtz, C.H. 1999. A phylogeny of the families of Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera). Systematic Entomology 24: 51-84

Howden, H.F. 1955. Biology and taxonomy of North American beetles of the subfamily Geotrupinae with revisions of the genera Bolbocerosoma, Eucanthus, Geotrupes and Peltotrupes (Scarabaeidae). Proceedings of the United States National Museum 104: 151-319

Howden, H.F. 1982. Larval and adult characters of Frickius Germain, its relationship to the Geotrupini, and a phylogeny of some major taxa in the Scarabaeoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera). Canadian Journal of Zoology 60: 2713-2724

Howden, H.F. & Peck, S.B. 1987. Adult habits, larval morphology, and phylogenetic placement of Taurocerastes patagonicus Philippi (Scarabaeidae: Geotrupinae). Canadian Journal of Zoology 65: 329-332

Iablokoff-Khnzorian, S.M. 1977. Uber die Phylogenie der Lamellicornia. Entomologische Abhandlungen. Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden 41: 135-200

Klemperer, H.G. 1978. The repair of larval cells and other larval activities in Geotrupes spiniger Marshall and other species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Ecological Entomology 3: 119-131

Klemperer, H.G. 1979. An analysis of the nesting behaviour of Geotrupes spiniger Marsham (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Ecological Entomology 4: 133-150

Lawrence, J.F. & Newton, A.F., Jr 1982. Evolution and classification of beetles. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 13: 261-290

Scholtz, C.H. & Browne, D.J. 1996. Polyphyly in the Geotrupidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea): a case for a new family. Journal of Natural History 30: 597-614

Zunino, M. 1984. Sistematica generica dei Geotrupinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae), filogenesi della sottofamiglia e considerazioni biogeografiche. Bollettino del Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali. Torino 2: 9-162

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
		12-Feb-2010	(import)