Small Beetle - Mastogenius

Yes, Mastogenius sp.

Photo detail isn't sufficient to tell whether it's M. subcyaneus (dark violaceous black, pronotum shiny, sparsely punctate) or M. crenulatus (black, pronotum finely crenulate, less shiny).

… Ted C. MacRae, 2 May, 2007 - 11:44pm

Moved

Moved from Metallic Wood-boring Beetles.

… Joshua P. Basham, 2 May, 2007 - 12:18am

Mastogenius sp.

Hey Graham, this is a Mastogenius. These small buprestids are miners of oak twigs and makes since that you found it on an oak leaf. I have some of these from here in TN and have been trying to take good pics of them but have had no luck. Thanks for reminding me on these little guys. There are several species and I am not for sure which your's is. I'll ask around and try to come up with the id. I will post mine latter with their correct ids.

… Joshua P. Basham, 2 May, 2007 - 12:17am

keep this one, it´s tricky!

first guess: small Buprestid.
second guess: Elateridae: Lissominae
third guess: Eucnemid.

Pic of underside may allow choice.

:-)

… Boris Büche, 12 April, 2007 - 4:05am

I don't think its an elatrid

Elatrids seem to usually have a slightly pointed corners on the posterior edge of pronotum, this one seems to have an incurved pronotum... that does make me think buprespid, though I don't know what the other family he mentioned is... Hope this helps

… Will Chatfield-Taylor, 12 April, 2007 - 9:41am

Buprestidae

I think the critter in hand is a buprestid beetle. I ruled out Eucnemidae. No Nearctic form comes close to matching the above photograph.

… Robert Otto, 21 April, 2007 - 10:57am

Thanks for commenting.

It was actually ~2 mm. Sorry for the photos! I'm just happy to get it to family. Thanks again!

… Graham Montgomery, 21 April, 2007 - 11:39am