Species Brachypsectra fulva - Texas Beetle

Brachypsectra fulva LeConte 1874

Adult: ♂ 3.7-6.3 mm, ♀ 5-7.7 mm; larva: 15 mm(2)

Det. M. A. Quinn, 2010

sw. US (c.CA to c. & n.TX) / nw. Mex. (Baja, Sonora) - Map (2)(3), one historical record from sw. UTAH: St. George, 11-VII-1955, 7795, G. F. Knowlton (1, FSCA).

no apparent association with a particular plant group; the common feature of all recorded habitats is the presence of large numbers of insects and other arthropods sheltering there; adults come to lights(2)

Males collected from late May to mid-August(2); Fleenor and Taber (1999) found that in Texas the flight period started on July 24 (8 adults in 2 blacklight traps), with subsequent weekends recording 38, 5, and 4 respectively; for nearly a month of activity. It is not known if beetles emerged at these times, or if rains triggered activity. (Woodruff 2004)

larvae are nonspecific ambush predators (remain inactive until approached by prey)(2)

life cycle and number of instars (at least three) unknown but likely variable; some larvae have remained in captivity without feeding for 2 yrs(2); larvae of various sizes were found year round under loblolly pine bark throughout Bastrop State Park, Bastrop Co., TX (Fleenor, pers. comm. 2009)

poorly represented in collections, but Fleenor & Taber (1999) collected 50+ adults in light traps in Bastrop Co., TX

Fleenor S.B., Taber S.W. (2000) Discovery of the female Texas beetle and notes on the ephemeral appearance of adults. Southwest. Entomol 25: 303–305. [not cited in(2)]

LeConte, J.L. 1874. Descriptions of new Coleoptera chiefly from the Pacific slope of North America. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 5: 43-292

Neck, R.W. 1993. Notes on habitats and rearing of Brachypsectra fulva LeConte (Coleoptera: Brachypsectridae). Coleopt. Bull. 47: 291-292.

Type - MCZ, Harvard