Beetle ID - Osphya varians

Schweet!

In what type of habitat did you find this individual, and on what? Thanks for any info you can provide.

And, as always, great pics.

… Jeff Gruber, 16 May, 2008 - 8:03pm

Thanks Jeff!

Had a hard time getting pics of this one, so they're not the best. I found this beetle on a bamboo plant in a marshy area near a lake. I'll be back there tomorrow and if I see this beetle, I will certainly try to get better images.

… Scott Justis, 16 May, 2008 - 10:00pm

Melandryidae: Osphya varians

Skip is correct, it is as he thought. A very odd-looking melandryid in its own subfamily. Supposedly in New Hampshire, but I have never taken it.

… Donald S. Chandler, 16 May, 2008 - 12:06pm

How about Melandryidae, Osphy

How about Melandryidae, Osphya varians?

… Skip Blanchard, 16 May, 2008 - 8:03am

Meloidae

looks like a blister beetle.

… Harry Zirlin, 15 May, 2008 - 4:53pm

Not Meloidae.

I'd be leaning toward: Melyridae or genus Pedilus in Pyrochroidae. Actually, I couldn't rule out Cantharidae, either. Tough angle to make an ID from. I 'do' agree it is a firefly mimic. Neat find.

… Eric R. Eaton, 15 May, 2008 - 5:46pm

could be

a chrysomelid too - the tarsi look right (also good for cantharids). As you noted, a very tough angle to be sure. Not a meloid nor pyrochroid (or Tenebrionoidea for that matter)

… Donald S. Chandler, 15 May, 2008 - 7:08pm

LOL!

Yeah, I should have learned by now that almost 'any' beetle can be a teneb:-) This specimen really is a challenge.

… Eric R. Eaton, 16 May, 2008 - 1:57am

It was somewhat

of a challenge to get good images of too. Very active!

… Scott Justis, 16 May, 2008 - 9:47am

emarginate eyes

this one sure looked like a Canthid to me except for the emarginate eyes, which I don't believe any Canthid have.

After a bit of a search, I'd like to suggest this is Melandryidae, and specifically Osphya varians LeConte 1866 (Nothus). Seems to match very well the description in Downie and Arnett (only member of genus in NorthEast). However the MCZ doesn't seem to have the LeConte's type imaged. They do have another NAmer Osphya sp. by Horn on-line here. You can see the eyes are nicely emarginate, and the other characteristics generally seem match too. A brief Web search also came up empty.

It sure looks different from the other Melandryidae in BugGuide. What to you all think?

… Tim Moyer, 16 May, 2008 - 11:43am

Yes. See my suggestion of Os

Yes. See my suggestion of Osphya varians earlier today. Note also especially in the third photo the melandryid-type terminal segment of the palp.

… Skip Blanchard, 16 May, 2008 - 12:08pm

sorry Skip,

I totally missed your reply amongst the previous ones. You're the winner!

… Tim Moyer, 16 May, 2008 - 2:47pm

Thanks everyone

for the ID.

… Scott Justis, 16 May, 2008 - 5:30pm