''Sinodendron rugosum'' is a species of the family
Lucanidae
Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies.Smith, A.B.T. (2006). A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections ...
, the stag beetles. It is commonly referred to as the rugose stag beetle, and is the only known member of the genus ''
Sinodendron'' to occur in western
North America.
Description
The adults of this species exhibit
sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the sexes of the same animal and/or plant species exhibit different morphological characteristics, particularly characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most an ...
, a common trait in
Lucanidae
Stag beetles are a family of about 1,200 species of beetles in the family Lucanidae, currently classified in four subfamilies.Smith, A.B.T. (2006). A review of the family-group names for the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera) with corrections ...
, as well as unopposable clubbed
antennae. Both sexes are in length, black in coloration, and have small mandibles. The pronotum and
elytra
An elytron (; ; , ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs ( Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometimes altern ...
are covered in many small pits, leading to an overall
rugose
Rugose means "wrinkled". It may refer to:
* Rugosa, an extinct order of coral, whose rugose shape earned it the name
* Rugose, adjectival form of rugae
Species with "rugose" in their names
* ''Idiosoma nigrum'', more commonly, a black rugose trap ...
appearance. The head of the male is much narrower than the
pronotum
The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum ( dorsal), the prosternum ( ventral), and the propleuron ( lateral) o ...
, and has a short, median
rhinoceros
A rhinoceros (; ; ), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family (biology), family Rhinocerotidae. (It can also refer to a member ...
-like horn. The female either lacks a horn or has a small median tubercle.
Range
''Sinodendron rugosum'' is found in moist woodlands from British Columbia to California.
Adults are commonly found on the ground from spring to early summer.
[
]
Life history
The white, C-shaped larvae hatch on bark and tunnel inward, creating pupal chambers in decaying wood.[ They have been associated with oak, alder, willow and cherry.] Adults may feed on plant juices or aphid honeydew.[ The horn of the male is occasionally used in combat with other males in order to establish dominance when competing for mates.][
]
Predators
''Sinodendron rugosum'' has been identified as one of many species eaten by the Northern Spotted Owl ''Strix occidentalis
The spotted owl (''Strix occidentalis'') is a species of true owl. It is a resident species of old-growth forests in western North America, where it nests in tree hollows, old bird of prey nests, or rock crevices. Nests can be between high and ...
''.
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2577863
Syndesinae
Beetles of North America
Beetles described in 1843