Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Coccinelloidea » Coccinellid group » Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles (Latridiidae) » Corticariinae » Melanophthalma

Genus Melanophthalma

Latridid 9 - Melanophthalma corticariine - Melanophthalma Coleoptera - Melanophthalma pumila Minute Brown Scavenger Beetle - Melanophthalma Beetle - Melanophthalma Small Beetle - Melanophthalma Small dull-red beetle - Melanophthalma Latridiid - Melanophthalma inermis - male
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Coccinelloidea
No Taxon (Coccinellid group)
Family Latridiidae (Minute Brown Scavenger Beetles)
Subfamily Corticariinae
Genus Melanophthalma
Explanation of Names
Melanophthalma Motschulsky 1866
Numbers
2 subgenera, with 21 spp. in our area(1) and ~130 worldwide (5 spp. in Cortilena, the rest in Melanophthalma s.str.)(2)
Size
1.2-1.9 mm
Identification
Most spp. with a shallow, if any, transverse prebasal depression on the pronotum. Male protibia simple. Elytra rather short, well rounded at sides (also applies to Corticarina). In Cortinicara, male protibia with subapical spine, and symmetrical genitalia lack parameres (well-developed in Melanophthalma); females may be unidentifiable.
Separating subgenera, Cortilena vs Melanophthalma:
antennal club 2- vs 3-segmented(1)(3)
pubescence shorter, less conspicuous (M. picta appears glabrous)(1)(3)(4)
6th abdominal ventrite concealed in males (small yet visible in females) vs visible in both sexes(4)
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea
Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.). 2002. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.
2.Rücker W.H. (1998-2014) Latridiidae & Merophysiinae
3.Latridiidae (Coleoptera) of Atlantic Canada: New records, keys to identification, new synonyms, distribution, and zoogeography
Majka C.G., Langor D., Rücker W.H. 2009. The Canadian Entomologist 141: 317-370.
4.Revision of the Lathridiidae of Boreal America
Fall H.C. 1899. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 26: 101–190.
Contributed by Jim McClarin on 29 November, 2005 - 8:13pm
Additional contributions by Charlene Wood, Boris Bueche, v belov
Last updated 24 March, 2013 - 5:07pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo