Aphodius pedellus (degeer), a species distinct from a. Fimetarius (linnaeus) (coleoptera: Aphodiidae)

Abstract

Aphodius pedellus (DeGeer), currently listed as the oldest synonym of A. fimetarius (Linnaeus), is shown to have a karyotype consistently different from that of A. fimetarius and it is therefore regarded as a separate species. No examples of hybrid karyotypes have been observed even though the two species frequently occur together. Morphological analysis of specimens with known karyotypes has shown that the two species can be separated by details of the endophallus and head shape of males, and the pronotal punctation of females. The type series of Scarabaeus fimetarius Linnaeus and S. pedellus DeGeer have been studied and identified on the basis of the morphological features associated with the two karyotypes. Lectotypes have been designated, confirming the usage of Aphodius fimetarius (L.) and A. pedellus (DeGeer) adopted in this paper.