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Photo#245073
Another Lytta? - Lytta tenebrosa

Another Lytta? - Lytta tenebrosa
Near Soda Lake, Carizzo Plains National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA
April 8, 2008
It does have bead-like antennae :-) Found among flowers of Phacelia ciliata in the arid Carizzo Plains.

Here's a list of beetle species for the Carrizo Plains, in case it's helpful.

Lytta tenebrosa (LeConte), Central Valley race of Selander 1960
John Pinto det.
Moved from Blister Beetles.
Nice addition, Aaron.

 
Good News
Glad to get a new Lytta species up on BugGuide. Thanks you for your efforts here =v=, and also to John Pinto.

maybe L. auriculata...
...but better wait for a second op.

 
Yes, let's wait.
I saw the L. auriculata images on BugGuide and considered that possibility too. But the "red-ears" at the back corners of the heads in all those posts are fairly well-defined, sharp-edged oval shapes---whereas this guy's orangish back-of-the-head coloration is more amorphous (except for the sharp, black, backward-pointing triangle) and spreads further forward diffusely.

There are 7 species of Lytta on this list. Holding off for the moment on auriculata, and eliminating some others that don't match (e.g. chloris, morrisonii, sublaevis) leaves three more possiblities (aeneipennis, childi, tenebrosa). Or perhaps it's something not on the list. I'm hoping Dennis (who I believe is familiar w/ Meloids in that general locale) and/or someone else may be able to offer some more info here.

 
exactly -- yours has this remarkably sharp triangle
I'm sure Dennis will notice your fine picture and leave comment

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