Trox scaber

Trox scaber

Trox scaber is a beetle of the family of Erdkäfer ( Trogidae ). These were previously provided to the scarab beetles, because the construction of the sensor is similar in both families. The five to eight millimeters long animal is spread by spreading over almost the whole earth and lives in birds' nests.

The genus Trox is represented worldwide with 46 in Europe with 21 species, all belonging to the subgenus Trox. In Central Europe, one meets at about eight species. The genus name Trox ( AltGr. Τροξ trox rodents) may refer to the fact that the upper jaw is forked (Latin maxilla bifida ) The species name scaber (Latin scaber = rough) alludes to the rough surface of the wing covers to.

Body of the beetle

The beetle is black to black-brown, the rust-red sensor. The bristles are brownish - yellow and not black. The body is short obovate and distinctly rounded.

The head is retracted into the prothorax. The sensors are zehngliedrig, the last three terms form a fan which is matte by the fine hairs. The first member of the hostage- holed long and slightly on the bottom. The mouthparts are directed downwards and not lie with the head shield in one plane. The upper jaw are short with small, almost smooth grinding surface. The pine buttons are rather short, the end link oblong. The third element is thickened labial palpi ovate.

The pronotum is laterally and margins at the base. Laterally he concludes with a series of short bristles, sitting at the base less regularly slightly longer bristles. The domed disc is coarsely sculptured and also has rows of bristles.

The elytra cover the telson. Each wing cover 10 carries narrow, straight and slightly dotted stripe. In between are alternately about four times as wide, higher arched and only about three times as wide, less curved spaces. On the higher and wider gaps depending sits a series of small bumps that are filled with short strong bristles. On the narrower spaces lack the bump and the bristles are much more sparse and grouped in a series of very small Borstentüpfelchen. The sides of the elytra are bordered with a series of short bristles.

The front chest is extended between the front legs to the rear. This Prosternalfortsatz is short and pointed. The abdomen shows only five sternites. The hips of the middle pair of legs are very small and roundish. The legs have five-membered tarsi of the front legs are formed by the toothed outer edge of the rails as grave legs.

Way of life

The heat-loving beetles can produce by rubbing the abdomen on the elytra chirping noises. The species is mainly found in the substructure of older large bird nests, but also in smaller birds' nests, carcasses of birds and fur remnants, which they gnaw. Chance encounters they are also at the entrance to the underground Tierbauen to. The adult animals are reluctant to fly.

Dissemination

The species is distributed almost worldwide. In Central Europe it is common in lower elevations, in the Alps, it is rare.