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Photo#231328
Bombardier Beetle - Brachinus medius
Copyright © 2008 tom murray

Bombardier Beetle - Brachinus medius
Harvard, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA
October 5, 2008
Size: 8mm
Contributed by tom murray on 5 October, 2008 - 6:25pm
Last updated 12 October, 2008 - 5:57pm

Peter
It sounds like this was another challenging one. I find these bombadiers fascinating. Thanks for identifying another one to species.
… tom murray, 12 October, 2008 - 5:57pm

Brachinus medius
is my best identification for this specimen examined under microscope - difficult and not 100% secure. Thanks Tom.

For the technical record, this specimen met the following criteria for B. medius: Just under 8 mm body length (upper normal limit); dark venter including metasternum; metasternum not shortened; glabrous proepipleura & proepisterna; antennomere #3 completely dark; antennomere #1 proportionately robust; protibia strigose. Unable to find any genitalia by dissection (unusual).
… Peter Messer, 12 October, 2008 - 12:21pm

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