Bipectinate Click Beetle - Pityobius anguinus

Moved

Moved from Beetles.

… John R. Maxwell, 18 September, 2008 - 11:50am

striae not "very different"

. . . but only seem so, because illumination (surround light from above in MCZ) is different.

Every Entomologist may face this effect once he takes a look through somebody other´s scope . . .

… Boris Büche, 18 September, 2008 - 8:53am

John, Boris -- you win! P. anguinus it is :)

Boris, thank you for pointing at the illumination effect and clarifying the matter. Type's interstitiae do look wider and flatter to me; i have still a lot to learn about comparing photos.

… v belov, 18 September, 2008 - 8:58am

Image

I added an image that may show the pattern better. I also added a link to MCZ on the info page. If this new image doesn't add any value to BG, please let me know so I can frass (same offer as every image I post). The fact that the MCZ specimen is practically "bald" may be a factor, too.

… John R. Maxwell, 18 September, 2008 - 12:19pm

thanks, John

for everything you've contributed

… v belov, 18 September, 2008 - 12:28pm

nice... keep it please

i also think it's a Pityobius but P. anguinus type (also a male) in MCZ has very diff. elytral striae, so let's just make genus page, put the guy there for the time being as 'sp.' , and pray for Godot to come and pronounce :-]

… v belov, 14 September, 2008 - 12:26pm

Images

I agree that "MCZ has very diff. elytral striae" but the genus page says...
"This genus is restricted to North America.
Pityobius anguinus - east of the Great Plains (1)
Pityobius murrayi - CA & OR (1)"
So you see the problem... if it is that genus, it should be that species. Hmmmm...

… John R. Maxwell, 15 September, 2008 - 9:44pm

"it should be that species" --

no 'shoulds' apply; that's the entire point with nature. hadn't i seen the type specimen, i might agree with "should". observation always supersedes recorded data that never reflect the actual situation anyway -- otherwise we would never detect new, invasive, or spreading species. that's why living things are so much more exciting than stamps or coins: you never know...

… v belov, 15 September, 2008 - 11:32pm