BEETLE GENUS ONTHOPHAGUS — HOWDEN, CARTWRIGHT 5 



of adults were placed in a single pot, at least a few brood cells w-ere 

 formed. These cells were removed and placed in 3-ounce metal salve 

 boxes with a small amount of soil. Many of the cells were partly 

 opened, and the larval development observed from day to day. 

 Some of the larvae were preserved, usually by dropping them for 3 

 minutes in water heated nearly to boiling and then transferring them 

 to 70 percent alcohol. Most of the preserved larvae are now in the 

 collection of the U.S. National Museum. 



Although Howden was chiefly responsible for the biological parts 

 of the study and CartAVTight for the library research, the study of the 

 specimens and the writing of this review of our Onthophagus has been 

 a joint undertaking with each author sharing equally in all of it so far 

 as was possible. Responsibility for any shortcomings or errors in 

 fact or judgement in the following must devolve equally upon both. 



Genus Onthophagus 



Onthophagus Latreille, 1802, p. 141. — Lacordaire, 1856, pp. 107-110. — Horn, 1875, 

 pp. 137-141.— Bates, 1887, pp. 66-82.— Blatchley, 1910, pp. 917-920.— 

 SchaeflFer, 1914, pp. 290-300.— Leng, 1920, pp. 248-249.— Boucomont and 

 Gillet, 1927, pp. 118-217.— Boucomont, 1932, pp. 293-332.— Ritcher 1945, 

 pp. 13-23. 



Type of genus: Scarabaeus taurus Schreber. By monotypy. 



Latreille in his original description of the genus Onthophagus cited 

 only one species as an example, "Copris taurus Ohv." Copris taurus 

 of Olivier (1790, p. 168) was first described under the name Scarabaeus 

 taurus by Schreber (1759, p. 7), Schrebcr's description being among 

 some 16 references to the species listed by Olivier. Inasmuch as Copris 

 taurus was the only species listed by Latreille, the Cm'tis (1825) des- 

 ignation of nuchicornis Limiaeus as type was invalid and cannot be 

 accepted under the international rules of zoological nomenclature. 

 The type of the genus must be Scarabaeus taurus Schreber. 



The genus Onthophagus, placed in the tribe Onthophagini of the 

 subfamily Coprinae and family Scarabaeidae, is perhaps the largest 

 genus of beetles Imown. Nearly 1500 species have been described. 

 In 1930, F. Burmeister stated the worldwide total number of species 

 was somewhat over 1400. More than half, 761, were listed from 

 Africa, 332 from Asia, 152 from Oceania, 85 from Europe, and 84 

 from America. The Blackweldcr checklist, published in 1957, 

 enumerated 79 species from Mexico, the West Indies, and Central 

 and South America. The present paper includes 37 knowni species 

 from the United States and Canada, only 7 of which are also found 

 south of our borders. Inasmuch as 5 of the 7 are new species, the 

 total number for the Western Hemisphere is now 114. 



