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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
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Photo#99628
antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus

antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus
Anthony Chabot Regional Park, San Leandro, Alameda County, California, USA
March 25, 2007
Size: 3.5-4mm
Found walking on a Quercus agrifolia leaf.
Chilled, posed, and released. Very uncooperative beetle without the chilling -- wouldn't stop running and running.

Images of this individual: tag all
antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus antlike flower beetle - Ischyropalpus

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Ischyropalpus sp.
A tricky genus. I suspect I. nitidulus, but your specimen is one of the forms that lack the laterally directed and lighter setae in the postbasal impression - some inidividuals of I. nitidulus do this, but it is a characteristic of some other species also.

 
Ischyropalpus sp.
I added another image of the elytra -- does that help at all?
I checked the UCB collection today -- I see you did many of the species determinations in this family.
The I. nitidulus specimens, numerous and from all over the state, are indeed varied in terms of the lighter setae, from very obvious to barely visible.

 
again, probably Ischy. nitidulus
This is the most variable species in the genus, unfortunately overlapping with a couple other species in color pattern/setal pattern in its extremes (as is your specimen). I. nitidulus is the most commonly taken species in CA, and by far the most commonly collected species in northern California. You did photograph a male, so if there is a tuft of setae on the posterior margin of the mesotrochanter, it is I. nitidulus (can't tell from your photo).

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