Podabrus basillaris

TL: ~8 mm. Prothorax was reddish brown with the margins a bit paler. Elytra had brownish yellow margins. Elytra densely punctured.

Habitat: Attracted to a light in a semi-rural area

comments (9)

Pudding4brains

Lion

Wow - I hardly ever see Podabrus :-/ ... nice! :o) Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, it was in a hurry so I only got this one shot. Hopefully it will return at some point. Posted 6 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

Beautiful!!!! Posted 6 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! It's yet another mimic! Posted 6 years ago

Pudding4brains

Lion

Hi Christine, had a better look at this one, due to your other upload. Pretty sure this is _not_ brimleyi(!)
I don't have a proper key to Nearctic Podabrus, but it would seem that brimleyi would usually have the red cranium and more extensive black on the femora. Maybe have a look at appendiculatus and/or basillaris for this one to name but two.
I think that the dark spot on the pronotum running through to the fore margin on your photo might be illusion, caused by the dark neck/head shining through, much like in this image on BG:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/368903/bgimage
On the other hand, please do not discount basillaris like this one:
https://bugguide.net/node/view/632395/bgpage
There seems to be some subtle difference in the colouring of the first antennal segments (then yours might indeed be basillaris?!), but that's just looking at pictures. Like I said - I don't have a proper key. Please consult someone more knowledgeable on these(!)

P.S. Consulting the key I linked with your other image, I would go for a male P. basilaris for this one.
Note that BugGuide has it as basillaris (double "l"), but the key and itis.gov have it with a single "l"
The Cantharidae of Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States
https://cjai.biologicalsurvey.ca/ph_25/ph_25.pdf
Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks so much, Arp. These 2 beetles have really been annoying me today. I searched through a 500 page beetle ID guide looking for a match, but kept finding inconsistencies. I’m removing the IDs for now, but will check out your suggestions tomorrow. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Pudding4brains
    
    Lion
    
    Please note that you have another one ID'd as P. basil(l)aris as well :
    
    I would tentatively agree with that ID. Was that one in the same area?
    Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      All three were in different areas. I've posted them on iNat to see if I can get any opinions on species-level ID. If I don't get feedback, then I'll try a FB group.
      
      Thanks again for your help :) Posted 4 years ago
3. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Looks like you're correct...shocker ;). I just got an ID for Podabrus basillaris on this one. Posted 4 years ago