Soldier Beetle - pruinosus

Moved

Moved from Soldier Beetles.

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 23 August, 2008 - 4:10pm

Moved

Moved from Beetles.

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 23 August, 2008 - 4:10pm

Moved it

Will,Where did you move it and why?

… Chuck Gardner, 25 August, 2008 - 8:51am

how sure you are about the ID?

[not that i could better, of course -- ]

… v belov, 9 July, 2008 - 5:03pm

Check it out on the Clickable Guide

I looked in the Bug Guide Clickable Guide images under Beetles.

… Chuck Gardner, 9 July, 2008 - 6:27pm

I see...

I agree your beetle looks like WHAT IS POSTED THERE AS P. pruinosus yet i'm afraid that dealing with a sophisticated group like Podabrus it's not enough. There are over a hundred of Podabrus species in this country, and, I believe, a few dozen in your immediate area. How many spp the Guide has posted? You do the numbers. Back home in Russia, I knew a guy who was very good with cantharids, knew world fauna as well, and published numerous large papers -- he hardly ever IDed Podabrus species on the spot before having spent some time with each specimen under the microscope.

… v belov, 9 July, 2008 - 6:41pm

What would you call it?

Oaky what kind of Podabrus species is it? Do I just call it a Soldier Beetle? I would be happy with that ID.

… Chuck Gardner, 9 July, 2008 - 6:58pm

I'm not an expert.

As far as I can tell from your photo, it's a 100% Soldier Beetle, but I wouldn't venture beyond that. Members of several genera could look about the same at such an angle. Believe me, I don't want to discourage you in any way, please post more of your fine pictures -- I, for one, do want to see them. But this resource (the Guide) must be kept in such a way that the IDs provided could be trusted by those who rely on it. There are hundreds of sites around (mostly agro- & gardening-related) plagued with misIDed insect images and all sorts of taxonomic nonsense. You are welcome to contact me anytime wia e-mail on my profile page, i'll be happy to help.

… v belov, 9 July, 2008 - 7:15pm