Canthon (Canthon) imitator Brown, 1946

Edmonds, W. D., 2018, The dung beetle fauna of the Big Bend region of Texas (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), Insecta Mundi 642, pp. 1-30 : 6-7

Canthon (Canthon) imitator Brown

Fig. 26–28, 32

Diagnosis. Black with subtle, but persistent blue/blue-green reflections easily seen under strong light (especially ventrally). Dorsum completely, densely covered by small granules on field of fine shagreening. Clypeus bidentate, teeth rounded, separated by acute emargination. Elytral striae fine, superficial, almost effaced posteriorly. Propleuron smooth, not divided by transverse carina ( Fig. 32 ). A formal description of this species appears in Halffter (1961).

Big Bend collection sites (altitudinal range: 1055–1630 m).

Brewster Co.: [1] ~ 17 km W Alpine ( Paisano Baptist Encampment ), 30°17′37″N 103°47′35″W, 1550 m (Jul) ; [2] ~ 25 km S Alpine (on TX 118 ), Woodward Ranch , 30° 09′07″N 103°36′51″W, 1475 m (Sep) ; [3] 8 km SW Marathon (Fort Peña Colorado Park ), 30°09′08″N 103°17′15″W, 1200 m [Aug] .

Jeff Davis Co.: [1] Davis Mountains State Park, 30°35′43″N 103°56′05″W, 1540 m [Jun, Aug] ; [2] ~ 12 km W Balmorhea ( Madera Canyon Ranch ), 30°54′37″N 103°53′16.04″W, 1140 m (May) ; [3] 16 km S Fort Davis (along TX 17 ), 30°27′48″N 103°58′59″W, 1600 m (Aug) ; [4] ~ 16 km NE Valentine, Muerto Springs Ranch ( Muerto Springs ), 30°40′50″N 104°20′22″W, 1555 m (Jul) ; [5] ~ 8 km SE Fort Davis (via TX 118 ), Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute ( Visitor Center area), 30°32′32″N 103°50′11″W, 1555 m (Aug) .

Presidio Co.: [1] Pinto Canyon Ranch (~ 58 km SSW Marfa on FM 2810), 30°01′18″N 104°27′42″W (headquarters area), 1475 m (Aug) ; [2] Dalquest Research Site , 29°33′30″N 103°47′30″, 1110 m [Sep] ; [3] 37 km SSW Marfa (along FM 2810 , Petan Ranch – Cherry Hills sector), 30°07′35″N 104°19′24″W, 1630 m (Jun) ; [4] 20–26 km SSE Marfa (along FM 169 ), 1355–1415 m (Jun) ; [5] 27 km SSE Marfa (along FM 169 ), 30°08′42″N 104°02′13″W, 1325 m (Jul) ; [6] ~ 72 km SSW Marfa (along FM 2810 ), 29°59′48″N 104°35′51″W, 1075 m [Sep] ; [7] 3 km NE Marfa (along FM 1112 ), Marfa Golf Course, 30°19′40″N 103°59′41″W, 1470 m (Jul, Sep) ; [8] ~ 96 km SSE Marfa ( Old Alazan Ranch , headquarters), 29°33′01″N 103°53′25″W, 1275 m (Mar) ; [9] ~ 30 km SSE Marfa (along FM 169 ), Humphreys Ranch , 30°02′30″N 104°01′00″W, 1285 m (Jul) ; [10] 60 kmSSE Marfa (along FM 169 ), Casa Piedra, 29°44′07″N 104°03′03″W, 1055 m (Sep) ; [11] 12 kmNE Ruidosa (via Chinati Hot Springs road), Chinati Hot Springs, 30°02′17″N 104°36′02″W, 1090 m (Aug) ; [12] ~ 13 km E Marfa (via US 90/67), 30°16′07″N 103°48′44″W, 1565 m (Jul) ; [13] 20–26 km SSE Marfa (multiple sites along FM 169 ), 1355–1415 m (Jun–Jul) ; [14] ~ 16 km W Valentine ( Miller Ranch , near headquarters), 30°33°30″N 104°38′44″W, 1350 m (Jul–Aug); [15] Miller Ranch (~ 16 km W Valentine), 30°32′50″N 104°39′40″W (Camp Holland) 1410 m (Aug); [16] ~ 6.5 km W Marfa (Hip-O Ranch), 30°21′54″N 104°07′12″W, 1530 m (Aug–Sep); [17] near Plata ( FM 169 / Alamito Creek bridge) Kennedy Ranch (headquarters), 29°52′16″ N 103°59′28″ W, 1200 m (Jun); [18] Pinto Canyon Ranch (~ 65 km SSW Marfa on FM 2810 ), 29°59′54″N 104°30′48″W (Pinto Canyon Creek), 1460 m (Aug); [19] 8 km 8km W La Viuda Peak, 29°42′30″N 103°54′30″, 1200 m (Sep) .

Collection method(s). a) baited pitfall trap (human feces); b) direct capture (cow dung; horse dung).

Surface activity. Diurnal.

Habitat. Usually in association with livestock, strong preference for open grassland.

Comments. This species is common and widely distributed in Texas and the southwestern United States. François Génier (pers. comm.) has suggested that the appropriate name for Big Bend populations of this taxon should be Canthon floridanus Brown , as yet an open question pending formal taxonomic action. In the interest of following current usage, I here conserve the name C. imitator .

Figures

Figures 26–35. Canthon. 26) C. imitator, dorsal view, male. 27) Same, ventral view of abdomen. 28) Same, ventral view of female abdomen. 29) C. blumei, dorsal view, female. 30) Same, oblique dorsal view of forebody. 31) Same, ventral view of right propleuron (arrow marks transverse carina). 32) C. imitator, ventral view of right propleuron. 33) C. mixtus, dorsal view, male. 34) C. praticola, dorsal view, female. 35) Same, oblique view.