long skinny beetle - Podabrus flavicollis

Podabrus flavicollis LeConte, i believe

Moved from Podabrus.

… v belov, 26 May, 2009 - 12:16am

Cantharidae

Actually, I had never heard of the Cephaloidae before now:-) Your image is indeed most likely a cantharid. This one looks like a firefly mimic, which makes sense since lampyrids have toxic hemolymph that they secrete from "knee" joints when molested. Cantharids seem to always "vomit" whenever I pick them up.

… Eric R. Eaton, 22 December, 2004 - 5:52pm

Cephaloidae info

I just found out that there's 4 species of Cephaloidae in Ontario (including the one shown on Cedar Creek), and 10 species in NA, with about an equal number being palearctic. The Nearctica site lists them under Stenotrachelidae, so I guess that's a synonym. Not knowing what to look for, it's possible that I've seen Cephaloidae and thought they were something else (it wouldn't be the first time; for several months I thought that long-legged flies were snipe flies, until an auto mechanic tuned me in during an insect field trip).

… Robin McLeod, 22 December, 2004 - 8:19pm

A new family to me

What sets Cephaloidae apart from Cantharidae?

Neat photo!

--Stephen

Stephen Cresswell
Buckhannon, WV
www.stephencresswell.com

… Stephen_WV, 23 December, 2004 - 2:10pm

Cantharid - Stenotrachelid separation

Cantharids have a tarsal formula of 5-5-5, the Stenotrachelids are 5-5-4. The critical leg to have in focus is the hind leg. It is, and you can clearly see 5 tarsomeres. Besides that, they just look different. Stenotrachelids look more like Lepturine cerambycids.

… Donald S. Chandler, 30 December, 2005 - 9:28pm

Cantharid

Thanks, Donald. There's some similar images under Podabrus, especially the photo by Joyce, so I moved the image there for now.

… Robin McLeod, 30 December, 2005 - 10:17pm

It's too bad that...

I can't find a dorsal view of Cephaloidae (also known as "false longhorned beetles") because that would allow better comparison with Cerambycidae, Cantharidae, and other similar-looking groups. In the meantime, it's possible that some of my assumed cerambycids, cantharids, etc. might actually be Cephaloidae.
The family is now on my list of Things to Check during a future visit to a curated collection of insects.

… Robin McLeod, 23 December, 2004 - 7:16pm

Current name

Cephaloidae is now considered to be a junior synonym of Stenotrachelidae (American Beetles, chapter 110)(1). Cephaloinae is retained as a subfamily.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 29 March, 2005 - 6:57am