Wedge-shaped Beetle - Ripiphorus fasciatus-complex - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Wedge-shaped Beetles (Ripiphoridae) » Ripiphorinae » Ripiphorus » fasciatus group (Ripiphorus fasciatus group) » old guide page - photos need to be resorted (Ripiphorus fasciatus-complex)

Photo#32837

Copyright © 2005 tom murray

Wedge-shaped Beetle - Ripiphorus fasciatus-complex -

Westhampton, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA
September 24, 2005

Is this a wedge-shaped beetle, possibly a Ripiphorus sp?

Images of this individual: tag all

Wedge-shaped Beetle - Ripiphorus fasciatus-complex - female

Wedge-shaped Beetle - Ripiphorus fasciatus-complex - female

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Contributed by tom murray on 25 September, 2005 - 4:52pm
Last updated 15 January, 2009 - 4:58pm

Moved

Moved from Ripiphorus.

… tom murray, 15 January, 2009 - 4:58pm

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Ripiphorus sp., female

Tom-

You're right- this is a female of the genus Ripiphorus. As I've probably mentioned, the East Coast species in this genus are extremely variable and the taxonomy is terrible. I don't even try to pin an exact name on these more specific than "species group". This is, or closely related to R. fasciatus, but that's as good as I can do.

cheers,

zack

… Zack Falin, 4 October, 2005 - 1:47pm

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Thanks

for the confirmation Zack. Maybe someday this group will get straightened out. Would it be any help if I collected a specimen if I see one again?

… tom murray, 4 October, 2005 - 4:46pm

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nope, not really...

Tom-

Collecting these beetles is a rare and neat opportunity, but there's an 80-90% chance that I couldn't tell you any more about that critter if I had it here in front of me. I'd love to do a species-level revision of the genus, but that's just not in the cards any time soon. I feel badly about it- many people are particularly curious about these beetles- but I just can't offer much in the way of help...

cheers,

zack

… Zack Falin, 5 October, 2005 - 4:30pm

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Right family.

The family ID is certainly correct, but I think this might be a different genus.

… Eric R. Eaton, 26 September, 2005 - 1:26pm

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Strange looking beetles

The only reason I knew this was a Rhipiphoridae beetle, not an odd ooking fly, is because I was already fooled earlier this year by one.
Thanks for the help again Eric.

… tom murray, 27 September, 2005 - 10:17pm

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