House Beetle - Callidium texanum

Moved

… v belov, 17 May, 2012 - 3:04pm

Examimation of the specimen...

...confirms the identity as Callidium texanum. The provenance seems to have been determined as originating from a gift hand-made from eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) brought from Oklahoma and showing several adult emergence holes. The species is common in Oklahoma as well as Nebraska on Juniperus.

… Ted C. MacRae, 13 February, 2012 - 11:27pm

The blackish appearance...

...could be just a matter of lighting. To me it does look to be one of the bluish species, and the very fine punctation of the lateral area of the pronotum suggests one of the pine-breeding species, of which C. antennatum would be the most likely.

Still, I agree with Doug in that this species is of unknown provenance, and moreover species in this genus are hard enough to identify with the specimen in hand, much less from a darkish photo.

… Ted C. MacRae, 20 January, 2012 - 10:40pm

Updated...

To include size. It is definitely bluish or maybe a bit more bluish-green. It's iridescent, so the angle of the camera has to be just right with respect to the light source, which was hard to do yesterday. I have more pictures taken from the side, and I have a shot or two of the underside. I also still have the beetle (it was 10 degrees this morning, so it's still inside...). Are there any views that may help with identification?

… cwhit1, 21 January, 2012 - 9:24am

the best way to proceed is sending the specimen to an expert

… v belov, 21 January, 2012 - 10:09am

Correct...

...species in this genus almost have to be examined under a scope for conclusive identification, especially when origin is in doubt. Please see my contact info if you care to send.

… Ted C. MacRae, 21 January, 2012 - 3:35pm

thanks, Ted

… v belov, 20 January, 2012 - 10:54pm

Doug Yanega's opinion:

"Given the date of emergence and the finding indoors, one cannot assume this is from Nebraska - it could very likely have emerged from some wood product shipped from elsewhere.
"Treated as of unknown provenance, it is remarkably blackish in appearance, and not very shiny. My best guess IF it is an Eastern species is C. antennatum female, but since it could literally be from anywhere, all bets are off; the linked photo to C. pseudotsugae is probably an even better physical match, and potentially just as likely. I'm not familiar with the western fauna, nor the Old World species. Could be from China, for all I know."
(i can only add that this is not one of the European or widespread Palaearctic spp. =v=)

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 20 January, 2012 - 7:12pm

A longhorn beetle

probably something related to Callidium

… Alex Harman, 20 January, 2012 - 6:06pm