Species Griburius equestris

Griburius equestris (Olivier)

Orig. Comb: Cryptocephalus equestris Olivier, 1808

5 spp. n. of Mex. (1)

3 mm (2)

Our basis for assigning Olivier's name is the dorsal color pattern and the color of the abdomen. His illustration depicts a yellow Griburius beetle with two round, black maculae on each elytron, the anterior-most being isolated and well-separated from the anterior elytral margin. The abdomen is described as black with the sides marked with yellow and with a black median spot. We interpret the latter as a black pygidial spot. (2)

c.TX-s.FL-s.GA - Map (1)(3), + NC (BG data), rare out side of Florida

Mar-July (3)

recorded from Quercus virginiana, Quercus laevis. Also reared from case-bearing larvae collected from lichens on oak in Florida. (2)(4)

After study of Olivier's original description and figure, we believe Cryptocephalus equestris Olivier, 1808 is correctly applied to an uncommon and little-known Griburius species of the southeastern United States and Texas. (2)

Griburius larvatus Newman - a similarly colored species common in Florida.

- Range: s.GA-peninsular FL

Newman, E. 1840. Descriptions of eight new Cryptocephali, captured near St. John's Bluff, E. Florida by Edward Doubleday, Esq. The Magazine of Natural History 4: 249-250. (Full Text)

Riley, E.G., S.M. Clark, and A.J. Gilbert. 2001. New records, nomenclatural changes, and taxonomic notes for select North American leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Insecta Mundi, 15: 1-17. (2)