Elaterid 02 - Diplostethus carolinensis

Moved

… Blaine Mathison, 16 November, 2011 - 5:27pm

Moved

… Brad Barnd, 26 January, 2011 - 1:57pm

Interesting...

I'll have to stew on this one some more, but if in Elaterini, I would guess a Mulsanteus, but M. carolinensis is the only FL species and they are not this color, usually. From these pics I cannot really rule out other odd-ball possibilities (like a large Ampedus, for example).
Will have to ponder/dig some more...

… Blaine Mathison, 26 January, 2011 - 5:55am

M. carolinensis looks good enough to me

consistent with what we've got under Mulsanteus, at the very least

… v belov, 26 January, 2011 - 8:01am

Mulsanteus, for now

would be hesitant to move to species-level right now, without seeing specimen. Especially from FL, where the potential for undescribed endemics or West Indian intriductions occur. The color, especially the way described, seems odd to me.

… Blaine Mathison, 26 January, 2011 - 11:01am

Mulsanteus, for now

would be hesitant to move to species-level right now, without seeing specimen. Especially from FL, where the potential for undescribed endemics occur. The color, especially the way described, seems odd to me.

… Blaine Mathison, 26 January, 2011 - 11:01am

Mulasanteus

I looked at the key again and at the images on BG, and this is definitely Mulsanteus. I have several other ones from OK and TX that are this genus as well. My number of unidentified elaters is growing smaller. Thanks guys.

This specimen noticeably differs from the TX and OK specimens in the degree of pronotal punctures and sculpture. The color may just be an artifact of the lighting, I'm not sure. I'll have to send these to you sometime Blaine.

… Brad Barnd, 26 January, 2011 - 1:57pm

sounds good

Roache (1961) did a key to the Elaterini but I do not have it yet. There are other Mulsanteus in the midwest and southwest and not sure the overlap of the ranges (for your TX and OK specimens). Would be fun to look into in the future!

… Blaine Mathison, 26 January, 2011 - 4:00pm