Somaticus

Somaticus
	Somaticus aeneus, subtribe Trachynotina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Tenebrionidae
Subfamily:	Pimeliinae
Tribe:	Sepidiini
Genus:	Somaticus; Hope, 1840[1]

The Tar darkling beetles (Somaticus) are an Afrotropical genus of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae). Adults are omnivorous scavengers, and the larvae, known as False wireworms, feed on plant roots.[2] The larvae of several species are known to damage maize crops.[3] The adults are matt black with longitudinal ridges on the pronotum and elytra, and may be covered in hairs of different colours.[2]

Species include:

Somaticus aeneus Solier,1843
Somaticus angulatus (Fahraeus)
Somaticus cinctus Haag-Rutenberg,1873
Somaticus damarinus (Peringuey,1904)
Somaticus distinctus Peringuey,1892
Somaticus geniculatus
Somaticus haagi Peringuey,1886
Somaticus metropolis
Somaticus spinosus Solier 1843
Somaticus terricola
Somaticus vestitus
Somaticus wahlbergi Haagi-Rutenberg,1873

References

Hope, F. W. (1840). "Somaticus Hope". The Coleopterist's Manual. 3. London: J. C. Bridgewater. p. 117.
Picker, M.; et al. (2004). Field guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
Drinkwater, T.W. (1991). "Morphology of and key to the larvae of six somaticus spp coleoptera tenebrionidae". Journal of African Zoology. 105 (6): 509–536.

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[Hope,_1840-1] Hope, F. W. (1840). "Somaticus Hope". The Coleopterist's Manual. 3. London: J. C. Bridgewater. p. 117.

[picker-2] Picker, M.; et al. (2004). Field guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.

[afrz-3] Drinkwater, T.W. (1991). "Morphology of and key to the larvae of six somaticus spp coleoptera tenebrionidae". Journal of African Zoology. 105 (6): 509–536.