blue-reflexed Microhopala sp. - Microrhopala excavata

Moved

Moved from Microrhopala.
Identified using Staines(2006) - compare subfamily page for reference.

… Boris Büche, 12 June, 2007 - 9:44am

Anoplitis/Sumitrois, perhaps!!

Very cool--I've never seen one of these. There's a key in Dillon, p. 720 (1) however. Here goes:
1-Antennae clearly 11-segmented --->2 (YES)
Last antennal segments united, giving appearance of 3-8 segments (NO)

2-Elytra each with 3 costae and 8 or 8 1/2 rows of punctures--->Anoplitis (YES?)
Elytra each with four costae and 10 or 10 1/2 rows of punctures--->3 (NO, but if that is correct, go to Baliosus or Chalepus)

Looks like the key says Anoplitis. Other references put some (or all?) species now in genus Sumitrois. (2) or see Web site--Leaf Beetles of Alabama.

FYI: Several images of this subfamily at Insects of Cedar Creek

OK, they all look practically alike, except for the antenna segment thing. Arrgh. That may not have been helpful, unless you do not have Dillon.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 2 July, 2005 - 11:20pm

A lot of work for a maybe!

Thanks a lot, Patrick, and I do have Dillon. However, I'm afraid I haven't made myself learn insect parts and descriptors very well, so I haven't tried to use the standard keys.

I think I'll try to get some more pix of this little guy that may help -- a side shot, underside view and a closeup of antennae.

This beetle bears superficial resemblance to 4Microrhopala 4excavata (pix in guide by Tom Murray)

, but they are not detailed enough to make a good comparison. That species appears *weakly* reflexed. Then perhaps one abberant individual could be more strongly reflexed. (I *did* aim for maximum reflex in selecting from a couple-dozen pix.)

I just noticed that we also have a photo by Robin Macleod that is reflexed like mine.

(Species name is deliberately altered to avoid automatic inclusion with that species in guide or searches.)

… Jim McClarin, 3 July, 2005 - 8:38am

I like Microhopala

I think I mis-stepped on the first couplet of that key. Looking closely, I see that the last three segments are partly fused in your specimen. That takes us straight to genus Microhopala in Dillon's key. The reflex, punctures, and tapered pronotal shape all match the other photos, as well as illustration (plate LXIV, p. 729) of Microhopala excavata in Dillon. (1)

See also Insects of Cedar Creek. M. cyanea looks similar, though not identical. Might be useful to know the plant you found it on.

I think you are good to go on this one for the genus. Nice photo and detective work.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 3 July, 2005 - 11:22am

Thanks again Patrick

I did not ID the plant on which I found it. Although I've gone so far as to purchase plant ID books, I haven't made time for learning much from them. I'm able to recognize poison ivy, usually when I discover myself in a patch of it, but that's about it.

… Jim McClarin, 3 July, 2005 - 12:07pm