The Larva of Platystethus Spiculus Erichson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) and its Occurrence in Bovine Feces in Irrigated Pastures

Platystethus is a relatively small genus (35 described species) with only two species being known to be indigenous to the United States. The Nearctic species were reviewed by Moore and Legner (1971). The larva of one of these, P. americanus Erichson, was described and illustrated by Paulian (1941). The larvae of the other species, P. spiculus Erichson, is described here. It goes to Platystethus in Paulian’s (1941) key to the genera of the larvae of the Staphylinoidea. Several larvae were taken by Berlese extraction as previously described (Legner et al., 1975) in company with many adults of P. spiculus in bovine manure that, at the time, contained no other staph3;linids. Ten to 25 L samples were taken at random from bovine feces deposited in green and dry irrigated pastures at 3 sites near Calexico, California between 9 AM and 11 AM over several sample dates from October 22, 1974 to April 22, 1975. Two age groups of manure were distinguished" 12 hr and 24-48 hr old.