Dinacoma

Dinacoma is a small genus of beetles in the scarab family (Scarabaeidae).

Dinacoma
Dinacoma caseyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:
Melolonthinae
Tribe:
Melolonthini
Genus:
Dinacoma

Casey, 1889

The genus Dinacoma includes two described species, D. caseyi and D. marginata.[1] Delbert La Rue, a researcher experienced with the genus Dinacoma and a taxonomic expert stated, "Dinacoma caseyi is a distinct species morphologically and comprises its own species group—the caseyi complex—the other [species group] being the marginata complex which includes the bulk/remainder of the genus".[2]

In 2006, entomologists indicated that there were two apparently new species or subspecies of Dinacoma, collected respectively from near the city of Hemet, California, and in the northwest portion of Joshua Tree National Park, California, at Covington Flats.[3] As of 2007, these specimens of Dinacoma have not been formally described in the scientific literature, but expert evaluation places them in the Dinacoma marginata species group.[2] La Rue (2006, p. 2) stated that Dinacoma caseyi is the most morphologically divergent and distinct species in the genus. The new specimens collected from the Hemet area are paler than Casey's June beetle specimens and possess morphologically different genitalia.[4] Furthermore, the Little San Bernardino Mountains geographically isolate the new Dinacoma Joshua Tree population from all other known Dinacoma species.

Notes
  1. Blaisdell 1930, pp. 171–176.
  2. La Rue 2006, p. 1.
  3. La Rue 2006, p. 2.
  4. Anderson 2006, p. 1.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service document: "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Casey's June Beetle (Dinacoma caseyi) as Endangered With Critical Habitat" (PDF).

  • Blaisdell, F.E. (1930), "Revision of the genus and species of Dinacoma with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)", Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 6: 171–177
  • Fish and Wildlife Service (5 July 2007), "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding on a Petition To List the Casey's June Beetle (Dinacoma caseyi) as Endangered With Critical Habitat", Federal Register, 72 (128): 36635–36646, 72 FR 36635
  • La Rue, Delbert (13 June 2006), Electronic mail communication to Alison Anderson, Entomologist, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, Carlsbad, CA. Cited in Fish and Wildlife Service (2007)


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