Species Colaspis recurva

Colaspis recurva Blake 1974

Barber, in a short penciled description of this beetle among his papers, wrote that it was similar in shape and sculpture to the type of C. crinicornis Schaeffer but differed in the unusual development of the tubercle on the abdomen in the male that was recurved, and he gave it the tentative specific name "recurvus" because of this tubercle.(1)

4.4‒5.1 mm(1)

Coastal States: VA‒FL‒LA(2)

good species that belongs to the flavocostata complex. There is little question about its identification, but it is “officially” known only from peninsular Florida, but in reality ranges (along the coast) north to central New York State, where it is probably associated with sandy “barrens” areas. How far west it extends along the Gulf Coast is unknown to me, hence I am hesitant to accept the Mobile County records as this species without seeing male specimens from these areas. So far, the examples I have seen of this species are entirely pale, which is a bit unusual for members of this group. E.G. Riley, pers.comm. to =v= 1.iii.2024