Penthe obliquata explained

Penthe obliquata, also known as the oblique polypore fungus beetle is a species of polypore fungus beetle in the family Tetratomidae. It is found in North America.

This species is primarily dark-colored with a characteristic, brightly-orange scutellum which distinguishes it from the only other species of Penthe in North America: Penthe pimelia. ^[1]

Description

Penthe obliquata are found in North America, along the Eastern and Midwest regions of the United States and Canada. They range in size from 11–14 mm, and have a dark, rounded body but an orange scutellum.^[2] Penthe obliquata can be found under the loose bark of decaying and decomposing trees as well as in dry fungi.^{[3] [4]} They inhabit a wide range of habitats, including mature hardwood forests, floodplain forests, swamps, pine forests. and other forested habitats.^[5] Known fungi hosts of this insect include Polyporus versicolor,^[6] Polyporus varius, Fomitopsis pinicola, and other fleshy and woody polypore fungi.^[7] Population levels of Penthe obliquata are thought to be secure, but large portions of the range do not have a status rank from NatureServe.^[8]

Further reading

• Book: Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 5: Tenebrionoidea. 2013. Lobl . I.. Smetana . A.. Apollo Books. 978-90-04-26090-0.

Notes and References

1. Web site: TETRATOMIDAE . 2023-02-21 . uk beetles . en.
2. Web site: bugman . Fungus Beetle: Penthe obliquata - What's That Bug? . 1 July 2014.
3. Web site: Species Penthe obliquata . bugguide.net.
4. Book: Evans . Arthur V. . Beetles of Eastern North America . Jun 8, 2014 . Princeton Nature . 9780691133041 . 560 .
5. Webster . RP . Sweeney . JD . Demerchant . I . New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Mycetophagidae, Tetratomidae, and Melandryidae. . ZooKeys . 2012 . 179 . 215–42 . 10.3897/zookeys.179.2598 . 22539895. 3337062 . free .
6. Weiss . HB . Coleoptera Associated With Polyporus Versicolor L. in New Jersey . Psyche: A Journal of Entomology . 1920 .
7. Webster . RP . Sweeney . JD . Demerchant . I . New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Mycetophagidae, Tetratomidae, and Melandryidae. . ZooKeys . 2012 . 179 . 215–42 . 10.3897/zookeys.179.2598 . 22539895 . 3337062 . free .
8. Web site: Oblique Polypore Fungus Beetle.