Phellopsis porcata (ironclad beetles)

Description:

Variation: The dorsal elytral sculpture is less variable than in P. porcata. Southern Appalachian specimens . Unlike other large Zopherinae, Phellopsis (the only genus in its tribe) one species is strictly eastern (no intertuberculate setae on the hypomeron; lateral margin of pronotum strongly bisinuate in lateral view; elytral punctures large, discal tubercles less than 1/4 diameter of puncture; posterior margin of prointercoxal process straight to weakly concave), another, strictly western (dense intertuberculate setae on the hypomeron; lateral margin of pronotum arcuate to weakly bisinuate in lateral view; elytral punctures small, discal tubercles about half the diameter of punctures; posterior margin of prointercoxal process bisinuate)

Habitat:

Biology ◦Phellopsis feeds on fungus found in old growth boreal forests. P. obcordata have been reported to feed on Piptoporus betulinus (Polyporales) on birch (Betula papyrifera, B. lenta) and Heterobasidion annosum (Bondarzewiaceae) on balsam fir (Abies balsamea). P. porcata have been reported to feed on fungi on western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and on Lentinus (Polyporaceae).

Notes:

These little about 1cm in length were sleeping on a big tree fungus . When I blow on it a little they move :)) Familia: Zopheridae Subfamilia: Zopherinae Tribus: Phellopsini Genus: Phellopsis Species: Phellopsis porcata NamePhellopsis porcata (LeConte, 1853) (North Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Georgia) frequently have the humeri more flattened and pointed apically.