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Photo#52505
King of the Dunes - Eleodes acuta

King of the Dunes - Eleodes acuta
Mescalero Sands, west of Caprock, Chaves County, New Mexico, USA
May 6, 2006
Size: 32 mm
At both Mescalero Sands and at White Sands National Monument, this large beetle was king of the dunes. Maroon sutral stripe.

They were fun to photograph—going in and out of their burrows, sitting in pits they had made, mating, fighting.

I know a lot of the desert Tenebs are in the genus Eleodes. What about this one? ID help appreciated.

Images of this individual: tag all
King of the Dunes - Eleodes acuta King of the Dunes - Eleodes acuta

Kojun was correct
This is not E. suturalis. There may be some other look alike species that I'm not aware of, but E. acuta is common on the Plains, and this is exactly what it looks like. The Pronotum (and the elytra) are turned up at the edge on E. suturalis, and the pronotum is much wider. This one has a bit of a rim at the edge of the pronotum, but if turned up, it is just barely so. Often the two species occur together (along with several other species).

Moved from Eleodes suturalis.

 
Thank-you
Thank-you David, and the others who have commented too. I am updating my own records too: Eleodes acutus.

Moved
Moved from Eleodes acuta.

Moved
Moved from Eleodes.

this is Eleodes suturalis
this is Eleodes suturalis

 
not suturalis
This is probably Eleodes acuta which also occurs out at white sands. While suturais does have the medial red stripe, it also has the lateral margines of the pronotum bent upwards. This one does not.

 
Sure looks like the lateral m
Sure looks like the lateral margins of the pronotum are upturned to me.

 
Yes
Yes, upturned at the edge, beaded there, but of course the highest point of the pronotum is the center.

What do folks think, suturalis, or just back it up a level, to genus?

 
I'd say definitely suturalis.
I'd say definitely suturalis. Compare to this from KU's entomology dept.

http://www.entomology.k-state.edu/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=179&tabid=484

 
yes,
and very common at White Sands based on a couple of trips there.

 
Thanks
Don, William, Thanks very much!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

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