Identification
head, antennae, legs black; pronotum and elytra reddish-orange; pronotum with semicircular or U-shaped black mark on posterior half; elytra with triangular black patch at base and rectangular black patch at tip
color of elytra is apparently variable (polymorphic) and is the subject of research papers - see Internet References below
Range
south-central United States (CO, KS, NM and/or AZ, OK)
Remarks
creation of species page based on Adalbert Goertz's identification of
this image, and this reference
(1).
See Also
Two species of soldier beetle are likely to be encountered in Colorado: C. deceptus is similar to C. basalis but is found in the foothills and mountains, rather than in the plains.
Internet References
occurrence in New Mexico and/or Arizona (Biotic Information System of New Mexico, hosted by Virginia Tech)
Chauliognathus basalis--type specimen at Harvard's MCZ
