Hypocephalus armatus
| Hypocephalus armatus | |
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| Museum specimen of Hypocephalus armatus | |
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| Genus: | Hypocephalus
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| Species: | H. armatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Hypocephalus armatus Desmarest, 1832
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Hypocephalus armatus, the mole beetle, is a species of beetle in the Cerambycidae family. It is the only species in the genus Hypocephalus.
Description
Hypocephalus armatus can reach a body length of about 45–58 millimetres (1.8–2.3 in). This rare species has an evident sexual dimorphism, as the very strong legs of the males are more developed than in females. It is very similar in appearance to a mole cricket. In both sexes the flight wings are absent, the prothorax is ovoid and shiny black, the dark brown elytra are welded together and the hind legs are much heavier than the others and adapted for digging. Adult males can be found from November to March, usually after the rains, when they dig into the soil.
Distribution
This species can be found in Brazil, in the north of Minas Gerais and southern Bahia. It has a fossorial habit and lives in underground galleries.
References
- Biolib
- Worldwide Cerambycoidea Photo Gallery
- Coleoptera-atlas
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade
- Charles Leonard Hogue Latin American Insects and Entomology