Euphoria kerni - Opuntia Beetle (Scarabaeidae ) in Colorado Springs - Euphoria kernii

Moved

Moved from Euphoria.

… Mike Quinn, 17 June, 2007 - 5:42pm

Euphoria, perhaps E. kerni

Crossing my fingers, this looks close to an illustration of Euphoria kerni in Salsbury, Insects in Kansas. (1) I'm not familiar with this species, however, nor with any others that might be in your area. Size looks about right for that genus--pretty large, say 10-12 mm.

Aha, here is a photo from TAMU. Also a photo on What's that Bug?.

Another possibility Eric Eaton had mentioned for similar beetles on What's that Bug is Stephanucha. The pattern is rather similar, but I think this is a Euphoria. Looking at the key to the two genera in Harpootlian, Scarab Beetles of South Carolina (2), Stephanucha has prominent teeth on the clypeus (mouthparts), Euphoria has a rounded clypeus. I think I can see that in your photo, and the clypeus appears rounded. Another difference I see in published photos is that Euphoria has deep pleats in the elytra, where Stephanucha has only some shallow striations.

So I'm happy with Euphoria, and suggest it is E. kerni or a similar species. E. kerni is on the list at the Entomology Collection of the University of Colorado Museum, along with several other species. They do not give locality data for specimens, unfortunately.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 5 July, 2005 - 6:56am

Moved to guide for Euphoria

I moved this to the guide for Euphoria. I am convinced on the genus, and think it is probably E. kerni (based on published illustrations) but am not familiar with western species.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 10 July, 2005 - 8:35pm

Nice spurs!

Quite a set of hind tibial spurs on that one.

… Jim McClarin, 4 July, 2005 - 7:21pm