tiny beetle - Clambus - BugGuide.Net

I think this is

Clambus simsoni. If so, likely the earliest NA record of it.

… Marc DiGirolomo, 4 April, 2023 - 9:38am

definitely a Clambus; since Joyce did it, must be further IDable

Cali Beetle Database lists only C. seminulus? Horn with 0 records... what is that supposed to mean???

Moved from Minute Beetles.

… v belov, 8 December, 2009 - 12:09pm

thanks everyone

A new beetle family for me ... the 76th! Wish the images showed more detail but 1mm is hard to photograph with my setup.

Yeah, I saw the listings in the Beetle Project database ... the "0" means they haven't databased actual specimens (which doesn't mean there aren't specimens somewhere); the "?" must mean they are not really sure if this species occurs in CA (but they think it does, or they wouldn't list it).

The Essig Museum doesn't have any Clambus identified to species, according to the Essig database. They do have some Clambus specimens. The only clambid identified to species there is Loricaster rotundus. I can have a look at them this week but it's likely I won't be able to figure out anything more than we know right now.

I did find this beetle on the 2008 Essig Museum field trip, but I'm quite sure that no one kept the specimen.

… Joyce Gross, 8 December, 2009 - 1:31pm

thanx for the details, Joyce

pls check the Loricaster rotundus -- Don Chandler privately suggested that your beetle may be indeed a Loricaster but the conspicuous scutellum tells otherwise, if the key(1) is to be trusted

… v belov, 8 December, 2009 - 1:44pm

Clambus

Pretty sure this Clambus. It turns out Bill Shepard collected 3 of them on the Essig Museum field trip, down the road from Rock Creek Ranch, and they are in the collection now, labeled Clambus sp.

The scutellum was pretty visible in the Clambus specimens compared to the Loricaster rotundus specimens (but it seemed quite visible on one of those too...). Loricaster seemed to have more hairy elytra.

Otherwise, all these clambids are terribly small and look like tiny specks. The microscope did help a little.

… Joyce Gross, 11 December, 2009 - 12:47am

Consulting

the revision of American clambids by Endrody-Younga, only two species are known from California, C. vulner*atus and C. gibbu*lus. This last species in known from northwestern California. Use this info at your own peril (C. seminulum is known only from Arizona).

… Donald S. Chandler, 21 September, 2011 - 12:53pm

the key

Yes I looked at the key in American Beetles and noticed the conspicuous scutellum on my beetle. Also I opened up every image I have of the beetle but I can't count the number of antennal segments on any of them.... arghh. So I'll see what the specimens look like in comparison.

… Joyce Gross, 8 December, 2009 - 2:08pm

Moved

Moved from Beetles.

… Blaine Mathison, 8 December, 2009 - 11:50am

Clambidae...

nice pics for such a small beetle

… Blaine Mathison, 8 December, 2009 - 7:26am

indeedy

Sweet pics!

… Jeff Gruber, 8 December, 2009 - 11:31am