Elegant blister beetle - Eupompha elegans

Moved

Moved from Eupompha.

… Mike Quinn, 2 September, 2006 - 9:07pm

? Eupompha elegans (LeConte 1851)

David-

This appears to be a meloid in the genus Eupompha (Meloidae: Meloinae: Eupomphini), and while there are at least a dozen NA species, it looks very much more like E. elegans than any other species I have access to. This particular species seems to be highly variable in terms of color pattern and has had several subspecies proposed, no doubt as a result of this variation. I am not a fan of subspecies and would be more than happy to stick with the specific determination.

Apparently, this is the only tribe of meloids in NA that are found only here.

cheers,

… Zack Falin, 6 July, 2005 - 11:31am

Eupompha elegans

Thanks!

… David Scriven, 6 July, 2005 - 1:09pm

Wow!

Thanks, Zack, for the ID and additional information. I've never seen anything like this one. BugGuide is a real educational and humbling experience for me, learning about everything I either never knew existed, or that I "thought" I knew already:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 6 July, 2005 - 12:22pm

You're Right

With that bead-like head you're bound to be right about family. I couldn't find any photos with markings like this, though. There is such a favoritism toward the eastern species—in the printed field guides, and here at BugGuide. Keep those California images coming!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

… Stephen Cresswell, 6 July, 2005 - 5:43am