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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Tenebrionoidea » Antlike Flower Beetles (Anthicidae) » Eurygeniinae » Retocomus
Photo#335741
Anthicid species in California - Retocomus
Copyright © 2009 Harsi S. Parker

Anthicid species in California - Retocomus
Webb Canyon, ~2000 ft. elevation, Los Angeles County, California, USA
May 19, 2009
Size: ~7.5 mm
I spotted this wonderful-looking clerid [EDIT: Apparently, this is actually an anthicid!] on the branch of one of the many Olive trees that grow around my place. It was resting in pretty deep shade, but it accommodated me by crawling onto my hand where I was able to get some better photos. Something in genus Cymatodera perhaps?

Surrounding habitat is mixed oak & chaparral.
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Contributed by Harsi S. Parker on 21 September, 2009 - 11:29pm
Last updated 4 April, 2010 - 1:28pm

Moved tentatively -- may turn out a cousin, rather...
great to get you back, Harsi! i got your back.
clerids all have weirder, more or less modified antennae

Moved from Beetles.
… v belov, 21 September, 2009 - 11:51pm login or register to post comments

 
from Dr Chandler:
"It is indeed a Retocomus -- a bunch of species in California -- tails must be examined unless you really know the species (I don't)."
… v belov, 22 September, 2009 - 10:00am login or register to post comments

 
Geez... and I thought I at least had the correct family!
That will teach me to be overly cocky... I console myself with the fact that I know almost nothing about the Family Anthicidae and as such it wasn't even on my radar. Looking forward to going and learning more about it now though. And I will definitely submit more images of this specimen in the near future.

Thanks (as always) for the ID and the supportive words of encouragement, =v=!
… Harsi S. Parker, 22 September, 2009 - 12:05am login or register to post comments

 
Anthicidae have troubled past
several groups now included there used to be in other families, and some formerly considered Anthicidae have been transferred to other foster families
… v belov, 22 September, 2009 - 12:11am login or register to post comments

 
Notched eye
Sure enough, a quick browse through the other photos I took of this beetle revealed the emarginate eyes that Donald Chandler discusses here on this other Retocomus post.
… Harsi S. Parker, 22 September, 2009 - 1:28am login or register to post comments

 
*
btw, i alerted Don right away -- he's a global authority on these
… v belov, 22 September, 2009 - 1:31am login or register to post comments

 
Fantastic!
I don't know if it's an important detail or not, but I've added the estimated size measurement.
… Harsi S. Parker, 22 September, 2009 - 1:56am login or register to post comments

I haven't posted anything in quite some time...
...in part because my old PC died. I have replaced it with a spiffy new Mac, but it has taken some time to get all my files and programs up and running again. Any day now, my new Mac-version of Photoshop should be arriving and then I'll truly be back in business! Despite the lack of proper image editing software, I found myself really wanting to submit something tonight and I discovered this image already saved in one of my folders. I have many more photos and angles on this little guy, which I will be happy to submit if they will aid in obtaining an ID... but that's going to have to wait for a few more days. (*smile*)
… Harsi S. Parker, 21 September, 2009 - 11:29pm login or register to post comments

 
Good to hear!
Glad to hear you've got everything back up and running again Harsi, I look forward to you posting images again. Nice find with this one!
… Chris Mallory, 22 September, 2009 - 8:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Appreciate your kind words, Chris...
...thanks so much. I'm looking forward to posting more again too! And, as long as I'm thanking people, I wanted to express my appreciation to Dr. Chandler for reviewing my image and confirming the ID.
… Harsi S. Parker, 22 September, 2009 - 9:04pm login or register to post comments

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