Ammoecius MULSANT, 1842

DellacaSa, M. & DellacaSa, G., 2002, Systematic Redefinition Of Taxa Belonging To The Genera Ahermodontus Báguena, 1930 And Ammoecius Mulsant, 1842, With Description Of The New Genus Vladimirellus (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae), Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 48 (4), pp. 269-316 : 281

Ammoecius MULSANT, 1842

Ammoecius MULSANT,1842:302 ; PAULIAN 1942:25; ÁDÁM 1994:13; DELLACASA G. et al.2001:82.

Aphodius (Ammoecius) : REITTER 1892: 183; PAULIAN & BARAUD 1982: 111; DELLACASA G. 1983: 164; DELLACASA M. 1988: 368 (catalogue).

Aphodius (secção Digonorhinus ): SEABRA 1909: 12; DELLACASA G. et al. 2001: 82 (as synonym of Ammoecius ).

Aphodius (Artengruppe Ammoecius ): ENDRŐDI 1964: 105.

Aphodius (group Ammoecius ): ENDRŐDI & RAKOVIČ 1981: 42.

Type species: Scarabaeus elevatus OLIVIER, 1789 (monotypy).

Description – Length 3.0–10.0 mm. Small or medium size species, stout or suboval, strongly convex, shiny, glabrous. Black, sometimes elytra reddish, seldom quite reddish. Head cupuliform; epistoma punctured, rarely subrugose anteriorly, always with distinct transverse carina; clypeus usually sinuate at middle, either denticulate or angulate at sides, bordered, border glabrous; genae obtusely rounded, ciliate, protruding more than eyes; latter small; frons without any trace of tubercles. Pronotum strongly convex, sparsely or densely punctured; bordered at sides and usually at base, seldom at front margin. Scutellum small, triangular, punctured. Elytra strongly convex, widened posteriorly, rarely parallel-sided; striae deep or superficial; interstices flat, feebly convex, sometimes distinctly convex apically. Fore tibiae distally tridentate and proximally serrulate at outer margin, upper side with few large superficial punctures irregularly scattered. Middle and hind tibiae with strong transverse carinae on outer face, fimbriate with apical spinules short and equal. Pygidium with fine, rather sparse, short and straight pubescence; its apical margin with dense and moderately elongate cilia. Sexual dimorphism shown in males by more evident epistomal carina and less dense punctation on pronotal disc; by inferior apical spur of middle tibiae shortened and abruptly inwardly bent apically (except in A. incultus ); by the peculiar shape of fore tibial apical spur (in several taxa); by metasternalplatemoredeeplyexcavate.Aedeaguswithparameraelongate,apicallywidened,sinuate or abruptly narrowed; sometimes with membranous processes preapically inserted. Epipharynx distinctly sinuate at front margin; corypha strongly protruding beyond front margin and distinctly sinuate apically; epitorma wide, guttiform; pedia with sparse, stout elongate chaetae, anterior ones hooked; chaetopariae dense and very elongate.

Distribution: Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions.