Bristly New Mexico scarab

Xenochodaeus planifrons??

best guess, by no means actionable

… v belov, 22 October, 2020 - 3:52pm

Moved

… Phillip Harpootlian, 20 August, 2007 - 7:00am

Ochodaeidae - congrats

you beat me to it - Ochodaeidae, another new family for the guide [page was added some time ago for wrong taxa]. This is Ochodaeus [or similar] - check key in American Beetles. For our region, the genus Ochodaeus was quite recently split into three. Note those serrate tibial spurs [can't see in these images, maybe add detail shot? That would require some serious magnification though] and projecting mandibles, that'll narrow this down. Easy to distinguish once you actually see one - compare to this. Several of the types are on the MCZ website also - sample.

You might also have another new family from that light trap material - any Glaresidae? Similar size and projecting mandibles, but ...

BTW - the western species often come to light [or so I've been told], whereas the few eastern ones never(?) do - at least I've never gotten any that way or heard of anyone else doing so.

… Phillip Harpootlian, 20 August, 2007 - 6:49am

Oh boy!

I love stumbling onto new families :-) Changed from missing status on Beetle Family Wish List.

I was transfering last year's New Mexico scarabs (plus a few others) that died before I could shoot them into smaller containers with fresh alcohol when I noticed a couple of these little guys that seemed to stand out. Now you're making me check them over again.

I'll see what I can do about a tibial spur image.

… Jim McClarin, 20 August, 2007 - 7:36pm