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Photo#140989
Trirhabda sp. (perhaps T. diducta?) - Trirhabda diducta

Trirhabda sp. (perhaps T. diducta?) - Trirhabda diducta
Chews Ridge Area, Los Padres National Forest, Monterey County, California, USA
June 17, 2007
This definitely looks like a Trirhabda, noting overall shape/color/markings of head, pronotum (w/ characteristic three spots) and elytra; form of antennae (w/ 3rd segment < than 4th); form of legs/tarsi, etc.

It was found on a stem of the shrub Eriodictyon tomentosum, which led me to speculate it might be species diducta, which is one of only two species of Trirhabda known to use Eriodictyon species as host plants. The images of the (lecto)type specimen for T. diducta seem to match the beetle in the above photo fairly well.

However, in the references I've seen, the specific host of T. diductum is recorded as E. californicum rather than E. tomemtosum, and these two plant species are quite distinct in vestiture, form, and flower. E. tomentosum is abundant in the area where the photos were taken, whereas E. californicum could very well grow in the area, but I do not recall seeing it nearby. Anyone have insights? I'd appreciate input/feedback.

Addendum 11/16/07: About two weeks after posting this, I found out that Eriodictyon tomentosum is indeed cited as a host plant for Trirhabda diducta in "Table 1" of Swigoňová & Kjer(1)

Images of this individual: tag all
Trirhabda sp. (perhaps T. diducta?) - Trirhabda diducta Trirhabda sp. (perhaps T. diducta?) - Trirhabda diducta

Moved
Moved from Trirhabda.

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