Beetle for i.d.

2dogs2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 10:33 PM

Found this beetle in the house and would like an i.d. for it if possible. It was (sadly deceased) 5mm and very difficult for me to photograph. It reminded me of a dor beetle (shape) but much smaller. It was black with what looked like a red or rusty marking on each side.

Gatekeeper · #2 (**permalink**) 23-09-2010, 10:47 PM

I'm no doubt way off, but to me it seems to resemble a diving beetle. Something like a Ilybius species.

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 24-09-2010, 01:09 AM

This is one of the Hydrophilid dung beetles, a Sphaeridium sp.

Gatekeeper · #4 (**permalink**) 24-09-2010, 11:08 AM

See... way off!

2dogs2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 24-09-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

This is one of the Hydrophilid dung beetles, a Sphaeridium sp.

Thank you. After looking up your i.d. I think it looked most like Sphaeridium scarabaeoides.

Klaas Reißmann · #6 (**permalink**) 25-09-2010, 05:40 AM

Hi dogs,

you have got no chance to determine the exact species by photos. There are five very similar species in central Europe, four of them occur in Germany and I think that those four occur in Britain, too. Two of them are bigger with a size somewhere between 5 mm and 7,5 mm, two of them are smaler with a size of 3 mm to 5,5 mm. With a lot of experience one is able to determine them without taking a look at the genitals. But you need to see some very small promiment features (is that the right words?). So far I would tell to take it as Sphaeridium spec.

Regards
Klaas