Hi Deb, just a quick note that with the red head and legs this is certainly NOT melanopus. There are various species in the US with red head and pronotum and reddish/infuscated legs and I'm not equipped (nor do I have the time) to ID these properly. Maybe Christine or the people at BugGuide can say more.
Known distribution may be an important help in reducing candidates, so please indicate a more exact location (geotag the image?!)
Cheers, Arp
Posted 5 years ago
Hi Arp, maybe you will agree that this is the right match. The bug guide identification shows the likeness found in Houston, Texas which is basically 200 miles away from me in San Antonio, Texas. It is a big urban center.
Posted 5 years ago
This is a tough one...It could be variabilis, but it could also be simulans or cornuta. All three are very similar and occur in Texas. I suggest posting this on BugGuide to see if any beetle experts can confirm a species ID.
Posted 5 years ago
In Europe we have a similar problem with Oulema melanopus, duftschmidi and one or two others more to the south from where I live. Cryptic species that are sometimes even hard to ID on genitalia. Not saying that this is the same for this group in the US, but it wouldn't surprise me either. Headache dossier these ;-(
Posted 5 years ago
comments (8)
Known distribution may be an important help in reducing candidates, so please indicate a more exact location (geotag the image?!)
Cheers, Arp Posted 5 years ago