Preliminary review of the taxonomy of the Oiceoptoma (Coleoptera: Silphidae) of North America

The Silphidae beetle genus Oiceoptoma Leach 1815 currently contains three species in North America. Two of the species, Oiceoptoma inaequale (Fabricius 1781) and O. rugulosum (Portevin 1903), have been considered by previous authors as one species with O. rugulosum as a southern subspecies. Data supporting either species hypothesis is sparse. This preliminary study will compare male genitalia, external morphology, geographical locality data, and seasonal records from the Pineywoods ecoregion of Texas in an effort to support either species hypothesis further. Each of these species is associated with vertebrate decomposition and all are considered forensically significant members of the carrion insect community. Correct species taxonomy and identification in conjunction with knowledge of species ecology is the cornerstone of forensic entomology.