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Black Corsair (Melanolestes picipes) ♀ On a chert path near the edge of a dense mixed (hickory-oak) forest. <br /> Geotagged,Melanolestes picipes,Spring,United States Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Black Corsair (Melanolestes picipes) ♀

On a chert path near the edge of a dense mixed (hickory-oak) forest.

    comments (8)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Amazing how you keep identifying these all-black beetles, I wouldn't know where to start. What is a chert path, btw? Posted 6 years ago
    1. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
      Flown Kimmerling
      Lion
      View Lion class
      A type of sedimentary rock :) It is often used to provide structure for driveways and dirt roads.

      https://geology.com/rocks/chert.shtml
       Posted 6 years ago
    2. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
      Flown Kimmerling
      Lion
      View Lion class
      This is actually a Reduviid (assassin bug) female. I'm thinking this is possibly a beetle mimic as it hunts beetles! And don't feel bad. It tricked me at first too (until I zoomed into my photos and got a closer look)! Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Oh my, sorry overlooked that. I guess the mimic works :) Posted 6 years ago
        1. View Christine Young's profile
          Christine Young
          Lion
          View Lion class
          Awesome! Are you sure it's a nymph? They are sexually dimorphic with the males being fully winged, but the females have no hind wings and only reduced wing pads as front wings. **Also, be careful if you handle them - they bite! Posted 6 years ago
          1. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
            Flown Kimmerling
            Lion
            View Lion class
            hmmmm, i'll double check. maybe the person on iNaturalist tagged it wrong.
            edit: you are right! thank you!             Posted 6 years ago, modified 6 years ago
            1. View Christine Young's profile
              Christine Young
              Lion
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              It looks like an adult female to me... Posted 6 years ago
              1. View Flown Kimmerling's profile
                Flown Kimmerling
                Lion
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                yup! it is! Posted 6 years ago

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The Black Corsair

''Melanolestes picipes'', known generally as the black corsair or black May beetle-eater, is a species of corsair in the family Reduviidae. It is found in Central America, North America, Oceania, and South America.

Info 1 0
Similar species: True Bugs
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
View Flown Kimmerling's profile

By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jun 10, 2019. Captured Jun 9, 2019 02:54 in 234 Oakman Rd NE, Ranger, GA 30734, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 39,925 9,640 8
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/5.6
  • 1/128s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm

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