Acmaeodera yuccavora - Acmaeodera conoidea

Moved

… Jason Hansen, 25 September, 2019 - 10:37am

After examining the physical

After examining the physical specimen above it does appear to be A. yuccavora as originally placed. The clypeus is broadly emarginate and the strial arrangement rules out the west Texas species I was sure it was. It is also much bigger than the image suggests. I added the size to the record.

This is the most eastern record of this species I am aware of. It may very well be possible yuccavora is in west Texas given where this specimen was collected.

… Jason Hansen, 25 September, 2019 - 10:36am

Perfect example

This is a perfect example of the following: No matter how good an image is, sometimes there is no substitute for "chitin-in-hand"!

… Richard L. Westcott, 25 February, 2020 - 12:21pm

Moved

Moved from Acmaeodera yuccavora.

… Jason Hansen, 13 September, 2019 - 2:24pm

I will withdraw my ID and...

caution about first impressions and the vagaries of photo IDs. This appears to be Acmaeodera conoidea. BugGuide examples of both Acm. yuccavora and Acm. conoidea are not exactly definitive.

… Bruce Tilden, 17 September, 2019 - 11:56am

Identity

The problems that need to be worked out here cannot be solved with images on BugGuide. However, your comment is prescient!

… Richard L. Westcott, 17 September, 2019 - 12:05pm

Not yuccavora

Though it does share some outward similarity, this is probably not A. yuccavora. An in focus lateral shot would confirm my suspicions. Reasons I don't think this is yuccavora include:

1. Too shiny
2. Elytral pattern (which is variable among specimens, I admit) too close to many of the tubulus group.

Additional characters not visible in the image would confirm my diagnosis. Moving to Acmaeodera until it can be sorted out.

… Jason Hansen, 13 September, 2019 - 2:21pm

Identity

I am confident that the specimen does not represent said species. However, it is a very interesting specimen, and I urge the collector to look for more next collecting season. A nice series of these would really help Jason's studies.

… Richard L. Westcott, 16 September, 2019 - 11:07am

Agreed

I went back today to look for more, unfortunately I was unsuccessful. I may have to wait until next year to find more.

… Joel DuBois, 16 September, 2019 - 6:11pm

You might check with Rick Westcott...

who has collected a sizable number of Acm. yuccavora.

… Bruce Tilden, 13 September, 2019 - 4:18pm

Number of specimens

Well, no...I do not have a sizable number, never did. Jason Hansen has most of those I did have.

… Richard L. Westcott, 16 September, 2019 - 11:04am

Thanks Bruce! I spoke with R

Thanks Bruce! I spoke with Rick via email before taking it out of yuccavora, listing the same reasons for doubting the ID that I did above. I wanted to get his opinion because I can see how it could very easily be mistaken for that species. Joel has agreed to send me the specimen so I can take a closer look at it. I think it may be part of the tubulus group, which is in need of revision. If it turns out I am wrong, I’ll return it to yuccavora posthaste.

… Jason Hansen, 13 September, 2019 - 6:39pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… Bruce Tilden, 13 September, 2019 - 10:32am