Microsternus ulkei
| Microsternus ulkei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adult specimen (somewhat damaged) from top (left) and below (right) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Erotylidae |
| Genus: | Microsternus |
| Species: | M. ulkei |
| Binomial name | |
| Microsternus ulkei (Crotch, 1873) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Megalodacne ulkei Crotch, 1873 | |
Microsternus ulkei is a species of pleasing fungus beetle (family Erotylidae). In its family, it is placed in tribe Dacnini of subfamily Erotylinae, or in a distinct subfamily Dacninae if the Erotylinae are more narrowly circumscribed. M.ulkei is endemic to the northeastern (Atlantic) USA.[1][2]
This is the only American member of its genus; all other Microsternus have a Pacific distribution, occurring from northeastern Asia (Japan and the adjacent mainland) to northeastern Australia.[2][3] Pleasing fungus beetles are known to have a rather low capacity for long-range dispersal, with few species found on oceanic islands and many restricted-range endemics.[2] Consequently, it is by no means certain that M.ulkei is congeneric with the Asian species traditionally allied with it, some of which are in fact separated as a distinct genus Neosternus by recent authors. As M.ulkei is the type species of Microsternus,[2] however, it may well be that the genus is ultimately reduced to this species only.
Microsternus ulkei inhabits mature deciduous forests, where it eats hard-bodied shelf fungi ("conks").[3]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Species Microsternus ulkei". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- 1 2 3 4 Chûjô, Michio & Chûjô, Michitaka (1988): A catalog of the Erotylidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) from the old world (excl. the Ethiopian region) I. Esakia 26: 139-185. PDF fulltext.
- 1 2 "Genus Microsternus". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
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