Phycochus

Phycochus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Infraorder: Scarabaeiformia
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Aphodiinae
Tribe: Psammodiini
Subtribe: Phycocina
Landin, 1960
Genus: Phycochus
Broun, 1886
Species:
P. graniceps
Binomial name
Phycochus graniceps
Broun, 1886
Synonyms
  • Phycochini Rakovič & Král, 1997
  • Phycochus lobatus Broun, 1893
  • Phycocus Broun, 1883
  • Phycocus graniceps Broun, 1883

Phycochus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae and only genus within the subtribe Phycocina. It only contains the species, Phycochus graniceps, which is found in Australia (Tasmania) and New Zealand.

Description

Adults reach a length of about 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in). They have a shiny black, brownish black or brown body, with the legs and ventral surface lighter in most specimens. Adults are blind and flightless.

Life history

They are found in coastal sand dunes along beaches, where they may be found beneath debris and under logs.

References

  1. ↑ "Global Biodiversity Information Facility". gbif.org. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  2. ↑ Schoolmeesters, P. (2025). "Phycochus graniceps at Catalogue of Life". World Scarabaeidae Database (version 2025-10-07). In O. Bánki, Y. Roskov, M. Döring, G. Ower, D. R. Hernández Robles, C. A. Plata Corredor, T. Stjernegaard Jeppesen, A. Örn, T. Pape, D. Hobern, S. Garnett, H. Little, R. E. DeWalt, J. Miller, T. Orrell, & R. Aalbu, Catalogue of Life (2026-01-16). Amsterdam, Netherlands: Catalogue of Life Foundation. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Stebnicka, Z. (2001). "Aphodiinae (Insecta: Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)" (PDF). Fauna of New Zealand. 42: 1-61. Retrieved September 28, 2026.