Species Dictyopterus thoracicus

Dictyopterus thoracicus Randall 1838 (Omalisus). Synonyms--gender/spelling variants, and taxonomic shuffling:

5-8 mm (1)

Quoting from Blatchley (1):

EROS THORACICUS Rand., Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., II, 1838, 34 (sic--actually p. 14). Elongate-oblong, depressed. Black; sides of thorax and humeral spot on elytra dull reddish-yellow. Antennae with elongate slender joints, the second and third together about equal to the fourth. Length 5-8 mm. Vigo County (near Terra Haute); rare. May 31. Beaten from foliage of elm.

Original description (J.W. Randall, 1838, from Google Books):

Omalisus thoracicus. Body elongated, black, with bright rufous shoulders : joints of the antenna rather more cylindrical than compressed : labrwn somewhat rufous at tip : thorax quadrate anteriorly; posterior angles prominent, somewhat transverse; middle with a much elevated rhomboidal ridge, winged laterally, and dividing the surface into five profound cavities; margin elevated : elytra each with five distinct, elevated lines, and three or four indistinct, intermediate ones ; the second distinct line becomes obsolete before reaching the tip; intermediate spaces profoundly rugose.

Length between three tenths and four tenths of an inch.

Inhabits Saddleback Mountains (Maine), June.

By its rufous humeral spot, it resembles the humeralis, Fabr.

Note. This guide page is being written in the anticipation that someone will encounter this widespread, but uncommon and little-known, species--please do not delete. It is possible this species is being overlooked, given the lack of popular work on this family.

Widespread, but uncommon to rare. British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island, North Carolina; south to California, Texas, Florida (Beetles of Florida, etc.)

May-June (North Carolina)

Author biographic information: John Witt Randall (15 November 1813 Boston Massachusetts - 25 January 1892 Roxbury, Massachusetts ), obituary Psyche 6:316, 1891 (link). See also biographical information here), giving slightly different birth date. He was a physician and poet as well.