Horologion (beetle)
| Horologion | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Clade: | Pancrustacea |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Adephaga |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Subfamily: | Trechinae |
| Tribe: | Bembidiini |
| Subtribe: | Horologionina |
| Genus: | Horologion Valentine, 1932 |
Horologion is a genus of trechine ground beetles in the family Carabidae.[1] They are eyeless and have collected from caves in Virginia and West Virginia. As most of the specimens have been found deceased near drip pools, some researchers have suggested that the beetles do not inhabit the caves but were washed down from terrestrial epikarst. Few specimens of either of the two Horologion species have been collected likely due in part to the inaccessibility of the karst microhabitat.[2]
Members of this genus have an hourglass-shaped body and short appendages. The legs of Horologion beetles do not appear to be adapted for burrowing but their short size may allow the beetles to effectively maneuver in narrow spaces between rock layers.[2]
Species
There are two recognized species:[1]
- Horologion hubbardi Harden & Davidson 2024[2]
- Horologion speokoites Valentine 1932[3]
Description
The genus Horologion was described by the entomologist Joseph Manson Valentine in 1932 along with its founding member Horologion speokoites. The name is derived from the Greek horologion (Ωρολόγιον), used to refer to an hourglass or other timekeeping device, likely in reference to the beetle's shape.[3][4]
References
- 1 2 "Horologion Valentine, 1932". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Harden, Curt W.; Davidson, Robert L.; Malabad, Thomas E.; Caterino, Michael S.; Maddison, David R. (January 2024). "Phylogenetic systematics of the enigmatic genus Horologion Valentine, 1932 (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechinae, Horologionini), with description of a new species from Bath County, Virginia". Subterranean Biology. 48: 1–49. Bibcode:2024SubBi..48....1H. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.48.114404.
- 1 2 Valentine, J.M. (March 1932). Osborn, Herbert (ed.). "Horologion, a new genus of cave beetles (fam. Carabidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. XXV (1): 1–12. doi:10.1093/aesa/25.1.1 – via Cornell University Library.
- ↑ Bousquet, Yves (2012-11-28). "Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera: Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico". ZooKeys. 245: 1–1722. Bibcode:2012ZooK..245....1B. doi:10.3897/zookeys.245.3416. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3577090. PMID 23431087.