The First Records of Bycrea Villosa Pascoe (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the United States, Central America and Colombia and Notes on Its Association with Leaf-Cutting Ants

The first records of Bycrea villosa Pascoe (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae; Opatrinae) outside Mexico are reported, including recent collections from Arizona, USA, and specimens from Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. The beetle is of interest because of its association with the nests of le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Coleopterists bulletin 2004-09, Vol.58 (3), p.329-334
Main Author: Steiner, Warren E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult insects
ant nests
Ants
Atta
Atta mexicana
beetle-ant associations
Beetles
Bycrea villosa
Coleoptera
CONTENTS
Desert insects
Entomology
geographical distribution
insect collection
Insect colonies
insect ecology
Insect larvae
insect morphology
Insect nests
insect taxonomy
Leaf cutting ants
myrmecophily
new geographic records
Tenebrionidae
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Description
Summary:The first records of Bycrea villosa Pascoe (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae; Opatrinae) outside Mexico are reported, including recent collections from Arizona, USA, and specimens from Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. The beetle is of interest because of its association with the nests of leaf-cutter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), specifically Atta mexicana (F. Smith) and probably other Atta species that have above-ground refuse dumps. A diagnosis and images of the beetle adult and larva are included.
ISSN:0010-065X
1938-4394
DOI:10.1649/619