Ptomaphagus spp.

Ferro, Michael L., Gimmel, Matthew L., Harms, Kyle E. & Carlton, Christopher E., 2012, Comparison of the Coleoptera communities in leaf litter and rotten wood in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, USA, Insecta Mundi 2012 (259), pp. 1-58 : 18

Ptomaphagus spp. (female) ( Fig. 21 )

Comments. The only other member of this genus we collected was Ptomaphagus appalachianus (Peck) and many of these specimens are probably females of that species; however, Tishechkin (2007) reported several undescribed species within GSMNP. Range: this genus is found eastern North America. Habitat: caves, forest floor debris, tree hole, rotten tree roots. Collection Method: sifting/Berlese litter, carrion bait traps. Biology: probably a scavenger on decaying organic matter. Present Study: significantly higher abundance in leaf litter and primary forest, indifferent to season. References: Blatchley 1910; Peck 1978 (as Adelopsis ), 2001; Peck and Thomas 1998; Tishechkin 2007.

Figures

Figures 19–24. Habitus images. 19) Catopocerus sp. (female) (Leiodidae: Catopocerinae). 20) Ptomaphagus appalachianus (Peck) (Leiodidae: Cholevinae). 21) Ptomaphagus sp. (female) (Leiodidae: Cholevinae). 22) Agathidium sp. (female) (Leiodidae: Leiodinae). 23) Stelidota octomaculata (Say) (Nitidulidae: Nitidulinae). 24) Acrotrichis sp. (Ptiliidae: Acrotrichinae).