Margarinotus (Stenister) obscurus (Kugelann, 1792)

Caterino, Michael S., 2010, A Review of California Margarinotus Marseul (Coleoptera: Histeridae: Histerinae: Histerini), with Descriptions of Two New Species, The Coleopterists Bulletin 64 (1), pp. 1-12 : 11

Margarinotus (Stenister) obscurus (Kugelann, 1792)

Hister obscurus Kugelann 1792: 298 . Margarinotus obscurus (Kugelann) ; Vienna 1977: 40.

Diagnosis. Among North American Margarinotus , M. obscurus is unique in having the posterior half of the outer subhumeral stria obsolete. Once it can be placed in Margarinotus on other characters (see above), it is easily distinguished. Its aedeagus would also immediately distinguish it from any other western Margarinotus , with a simple median lobe apex and minimally bifid dorsal armature (see figures in Bousquet and Laplante 2006).

Remarks. I know of no definite records of this adventive Palearctic species from California. It has been cited, however, from Oregon ( Mazur 1997), and it may turn up in northern California.