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Photo#322937
Bombadier Beetle - Brachinus elongatulus - female

Bombadier Beetle - Brachinus elongatulus - Female
Red Rock Canyon, near Patagonia, Santa Cruz County, Arizona, USA
August 8, 2009
Size: 10mm

Moved
Moved to Brachinus elongatulus.

Thanks Peter
Another new one for the guide. I'm really glad you're identifying the specimens, otherwise all these Brachinus would stay in the genus page.

Brachinus elongatulus
based on the combination of my microscopically testing this vouchered specimen against the key to North American Brachinus by Erwin (1970) plus the subsequent opinion by Terry Erwin (pers. com.) that this image best fits B. elongatulus. This species belongs to the Brachinus texanus species group sensu Erwin (1970). Differing from very similar B. texanus, B. elongatulus has notably a limited southwestern range; elytra distinctly broader (but equally elongated) and with more prominent costae (glabrous longitudinal ridges); color of elytra with bluish reflection (may not be visible at all angles, not grey-greenish); tarsi more likely to be darker. In this specimen the styli of the female ovipositor are rounded apically ending in obtuse points, not acutely narrowing as in female B. texanus. Another image that shows body proportions of B. elongatulus, notably the broad elytra, is posted here.

 
brachinus elongatulus
Are the males typically bigger than the females Or are the females typically bigger than the males?

 
Huge variation in body length (4.8 - 10.6 mm)
for this species so I'm not sure about any conclusions regarding sexual differences in body size. However, I will say that for most ground beetle species the females average larger than the males.

 
Brachinus elongatulus
Is there any sexual difference between genders besides there.. Well you know

 
Thank you
I really appreciate you replying thanks for the information

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