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Photo#311147
Darkling Beetle  > Alobates morio ? - Alobates pensylvanicus

Darkling Beetle > Alobates morio ? - Alobates pensylvanicus
Middleburg, Clay County, Florida, USA
June 20, 2009
Size: 20.4mm
Collected under loose bark/downed White Oak tree along w/3 others. Measured from 18.4 to
21.75mm. Used "Fl Tenebrionidae Checklist" to distinguish from A. penns*ylvanica and
Mer*inus lae*vis, using prontoum shape, elytral punctations and the relative shine of
elytra. Difficult critters to key out. Comments appreciated.

Images of this individual: tag all
Darkling Beetle  > Alobates morio ? - Alobates pensylvanicus Darkling Beetle > Alobates morio ? - Alobates pensylvanicus Darkling Beetle > Alobates morio ? - Alobates pensylvanicus

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

Check this:
A. morio also has tufts of yellow setae on the mentum. See the guide page for this genus. It makes differentiating them much easier. From your photo, it looks like A. pensylvannica


 
morio - pennsylvanica !!!
Well now, it seems that of the eight specimens, only two have the
magic yellow setae, neither of which did I take a photo of. Of the
remaining 6, there is considerable variation in say the presence or
absence of clypeal suture lines, lines in and shape of the prosternum,
degree of "pointedness" if you will on the posterior-lateral prontoum
points, and of course, depth of stria punctations and elytral
reflectivity (read as "shinyness"). I will unpin and photograph the
two other "yellow setae" fellas if that will help things. Thanks for
the info V and Will.

 
i share Will's opinion
both sets look like A. pensylvannica to me

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