Phoberus Cyrtus

''Phoberus cyrtus'' is a species of hide beetle in the subfamily Troginae discovered by Erwin Haaf in 1953.

Taxonomy

Taxonomically, ''P. cyrtus'' was initially placed in the subgenus ''Trox (Phoberus)''. When ''Phoberus'' was elevated to a full genus, taxonomists moved ''P. cyrtus'' from the genus ''Trox'' to the genus ''Phoberus''.

Within the genus ''Phoberus'', ''P. cyrtus'' is most similar to ''P. fumarius'' and ''P. sulcatus'', and researchers have often confused the three hide beetle species for each other. Carefully inspecting the hide beetles' male genitalia suffices to distinguish the three species. The male genitalia of ''P. cyrtus'' have narrow median lobes that finish at an angular apex, while those of ''P. fumarius'' have broad median lobes finishing at a rounded apex. Furthermore, the median lobe of ''P. sulcatus'' is divided into two curved sublobes, a feature found in neither ''P. cyrtus'' nor ''P. fumarius''.

Morphology

''Phoberus cyrtus'' is between 9 and 13 millimeters long and 5 and 8 millimeters wide. The elytra, or forewings, of the beetle are fringed laterally with long hair-like setae that angle backwards, away from the hide beetle's head. Like other hide beetles, this species' elytra are covered under hard carapaces; ''P. cyrtus exoskeleton on both the elytra and the pronotum is a darkish matt black, with clumps of setae tufts protruding almost like spikes from the carapace. These tufts are yellow and measure less than half a millimeter in height. As one moves towards the beetle's head, the setae change color; setae on the head are long and light brown, and setae ranging from dark yellow to bright red and rust-brown fringe the mouth of ''P. cyrtus''.

''P. cyrtus'' has a triangular clypeus, which refers to the shape of the exoskeleton plate covering its head. The beetles' heads also finish at a rounded apex.

''P. cyrtus'' has especially long parameres that are only slightly shorter than their penis-like aedeagus's length. Male ''P. cyrtus'' beetles have two bladelike protrusions and rows of hooks between their genitalia's median lobes and parameres, which enable them to more effectively grasp onto and copulate with females.

Distribution and Diet

''P. cyrtus'' lives within Lesotho, southern Botswana, and the South African provinces of Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and North West. A versatile species, the beetle thrives in both grasslands, marked by moderately cold temperature and moderately frequent precipitation, and in savannahs, which are hot and have protracted dry periods. Still, ''Phoberus cyrtus'' depends heavily on rainfall patterns, and its range is restricted to summer rainfall regions, where it rains primarily during summer months.

This ground-based beetle is a detritivore and survives by consuming keratin from shed, excreted, or rotting animal material.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q111235185

cyrtus
Beetles described in 1953