John Pinto det.

Moved from Nemognatha.

Remarks on the BugGuide info page and other references(1) mention that Nemognatha have very long mouthparts (maxillae) with which they feed on flower nectar. These "beak-like" maxillae are easily seen in a number of BugGuide Nemognatha images, where they are tucked back below the head and body when not in use. (For instance, see here and here).

Can anyone make out the maxillae on the individuals pictured here? The lower (female?) beetle appears to have a "third middle antenna" which, as it's segmented and ending in the green leaflet, seems more likely to be the tarsi of the right foreleg than the maxillae to me. Similarly, the (male?) beetle on top seems to have "three antennae": one jutting towards the camera (focus blurred) with base near the visible eye, and two more appearing to emanate from near the other (obscured) eye. One of the latter ends at the base of the lower beetles right antenna, and again I'm guessing it's actually the tarsi of the right foreleg of the upper beetle.

So where are the maxillae? Do some species of Nemognatha lack (or lose) the long maxillae? Or is this possibly a different genus that looks very similar to Nemognatha but without long maxillae? I'm no expert, and I'd be interested to know.

Nemognatha are said(1) to feed on flowers in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). These two beetles appear to be on the inflorescence of a plant in the Caper family (Capparaceae). They're not feeding though, so I guess that may have little significance.

that looks like Nemognatha cribraria from the photos i can find on googls, but im not an expert on these guys and there is not a guide page for that species yet