Wedge-Shaped Beetle - Macrosiagon octomaculata

M. octomaculatum, very likely

Macrosiagon octomaculatum is illustrated in Taber, fig. 107. (1) The pattern of spots on the elytra looks distinctive. I'd say that's probably what this is.

Macrosiagon as a genus is pretty distinctive, and I found illustrations and a key of this versus Rhipiphorus. I'll be moving images to the correct genera--looks like we are all seeing Macrosiagon so far.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 5 January, 2005 - 4:22am

Macrosiagon octomaculata (Gerstaecker 1855), female

Patrick-

Right again. As with many Macrosiagon species, this has at least one named variety (M. octomaculata var. maritima Rivnay 1929) of dubious meaning. What is shown here and in photo 5088 are females of fairly "standard" appearance. The maculations on the elytra can become very pronounced, to confluent, to nearly the entire elytron becoming black. This species is particularly variable in size (must utilize a wide range of host taxa as larvae) and can be found all the way from California to Pennsylvania (at least) to Brazil.

cheers,

zack

… Zack Falin, 8 March, 2005 - 8:10am

Wedge-shaped beetle?

This might also be a wedge-shaped beetle, family Ripiphoridae. I am not familiar with the fauna of the deep south, though, so I may be mistaken.

… Eric R. Eaton, 5 July, 2004 - 3:36pm

Macrosiagon octomaculatus, a suspicious name

Just a suspicious name: Macrosiagon octomaculatus (-um), at NCSU Entomology and on the checklist of Florida Beetles.

This looks like it has six or eight spots.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina

… Cotinis, 7 July, 2004 - 10:44am

Spots...

patrick,

I'll check the other phots, as I've encountered this beetle on several occasions. I see at least 2 on the thorax and 4 total on the elytra...I'll see if there are more.

-T

… Tony DiTerlizzi, 7 July, 2004 - 3:42pm