Coprophanaeus lancifer

Coprophanaeus lancifer is a large species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae (scarab beetles).[1] It is found widely in the Amazon rainforest in South America and it is often common.[1]

Coprophanaeus lancifer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:
Scarabaeinae
Genus:
Coprophanaeus
Species:
C. lancifer
Binomial name
Coprophanaeus lancifer
(Linnaeus, 1767)

Description

Adults typically are 28–56 mm (1.1–2.2 in) long, with average being 44 mm (1.7 in).[1][2][3] This makes C. lancifer and the closely related C. ensifer some of the largest dung beetles in the world (together with certain Catharsius and Heliocopris) and the largest in the Americas.[1][4][5] This beetle has a horn on the head that is of similar size in males and females. It is usually dark metallic blue, but can rarely be metallic green.[1]

Behavior

Although part of the true dung beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae, C. lancifer primarily is a necrophage that feeds on vertebrate carcasses, although it also may feed on feces or occasionally even ripe fallen fruits.[1][6] They are paracoprids, meaning that adults dig tunnels into the soil under the carcass and move parts of this food source to a nest chamber where the eggs are laid. Because of their feeding on carrion, they are of interest to forensic entomology.[7] These crepuscular beetles are excellent diggers and good fliers.[7]

References
  1. Edmonds, W.D.; Zidek, J. (2010). "A taxonomic review of the Neotropical genus Coprophanaeus Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)". Insecta Mundi. 0129: 1–111.
  2. Boilly, O.; Lapèze, J.; Dalens, P.-H.; Giuglaris, J.-L.; Touroult, J. (2016). "Les Phanaeini de Guyane: liste commentée, clés et iconographie (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)". COREP-France: Coléoptères de Guyane. X: 86–97.
  3. Schmidt, U. "Coprophanaeus lancifer". Kaefer der Welt - Beetles of the World. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  4. Maldaner, M.E.; Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z.; Takiya, D.M.; Ferreira, D.C. (2008). "Molecular Phylogeny of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) d'Olsoufieff, 1924 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) and the position of C. bellicosus". Insect Systematics & Evolution. 51 (5): 241–255. doi:10.1163/1876312X-00002198. S2CID 91378730.
  5. Maldaner, M.E.; Vaz-de-Mello, F.Z.; Takiya, D.M.; Ferreira, D.C. (2019). "Genetic and chromatic variation of Coprophanaeus (Megaphanaeus) ensifer (Germar, 1821) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)". Zoologischer Anzeiger. 283: 150–160. doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2019.09.001. S2CID 202863071.
  6. Chaboteaux, E. (2023). "First record of the largest copro-necrophagous beetle in South America (Coprophanaeus lancifer) feeding on fruits". Acta Amazonica. 53 (2): 154–157. doi:10.1590/1809-4392202201651. S2CID 258411575.
  7. Ururahy-Rodrigues, A.; Rafael, J.A.; Wanderley, R.F.; Marques, H.; Pujol-Luz, J.R. (2008). "Coprophanaeus lancifer (Linnaeus, 1767) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) activity moves a man-size pig carcass: Relevant data for forensic taphonomy". Forensic Science International. 182 (1–3): e19–e22. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.09.009. PMID 18990518.
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