Agathidium 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

Agathidium spp. (female) ( Fig. 22 )

Comments. This genus was represented in this research by males of six identifiable species and one possibly undescribed species; however, none of the males were represented by more than 10 specimens. Information provided below applies to the genus in general. Range: throughout eastern United States and worldwide. Habitat: high humidity locations, forests, leaf litter, dead wood. Collection Method: collection and dissection of slime molds (warming a slime mold in the laboratory will cause adults to move and become visible), sifting/Berlese leaf litter and dead wood, flight intercept traps. Biology: winged and wingless species, strongly associated with slime molds (Myxomycetes), Wheeler and Miller (2005) provide a list of host associations for numerous species. Present Study: significantly higher abundance in leaf litter and primary forest, indifferent to season. References: Blatchley 1910; Downie and Arnett 1996 (key out of date); Peck and Thomas 1998; Peck 2001; Miller and Wheeler 2005; Wheeler and Miller 2005.

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).