Checkered Beetle - Trichodes apivorus

Checkered Beetle?

hey Patrick,

I wonder if it is from the family Cleridae (Checkered Beetles)? The clubbed antennea, general anatomy and manner seem to fit that group...what was the approx. size?

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 8 June, 2004 - 12:58pm

Trichodes sp?

In fact, is this it?
http://cedarcreek.umn.edu/insects/album/024067018ap.html

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 8 June, 2004 - 1:03pm

Yes, Cleridae: Trichodes looks good!

Good show. Not a family I am familiar with. Size was circa 1 cm. Dillon and Dillon list it, Plate XXIX #2, size 8-11 mm. On color plate D in my edition, which must be slightly different. Dark elytral markings are narrower in my photo--could be variation, could be a species difference.

NCSU Entomology Collection lists only Trichodes aprivorus from NC, with 31 pinned. ("aprivorus" is a misspelling for "apivorous".) They list Trichodes nutalli with 29 pinned, but not from NC. (That could be an error, or they simply had plenty specimens from other states.)

T apivorous listed at Beetles of Florida, but not T. nutalli. Hard to know how complete that list is.

They actually have a beetle collection at Weymouth woods--I might be able to find it there. My hunch is that is T. apivorous, since I saw it in the coastal plain, and it is found in Florida. A lot of Florida flora and fauna make it up to NC in the coastal plain. I'd say tentatively, T. apivorous, pending confirmation. (No images of T. apivorous out there on Google that I can find.)

Thanks for your help. Maybe we can pin this one down for sure later.
Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 8 June, 2004 - 2:12pm

Anytime...

Hey Patrick,

You've helped me out on stuff before, so I owed ya one. Hey, this is what it's all about right?

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 8 June, 2004 - 3:19pm