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Photo#361676
Melittomma sericeum - male

Melittomma sericeum - Male
Hereford, Baltimore County, Maryland, USA
July 17, 2006
Size: 10 mm
Melittomma sericeum. Collected at ultra-violet light in mixed hardwood forest. Females lack the bizarre maxillary palps, see . They closely resemble some Melandryids but the Lymexylids have short bead-like antennae and 5 tarsal segments on the hind legs. The Melandryids tend to have somewhat longer antennae and 5-5-4 tarsal formula. Although the longer antennae character not always reliable in separation (compare to Jim McClarin's photos of Rushia longula from New Hampshire, , you can always "count on" the different tarsi. I believe that larvae of the Chestnut Timberworm are reported from many hardwoods but interesting to note that there were a surprising number of American Chestnut trees growing in the understory close to where this beetle was collected. These were blighted sprouts but some were tree size: max 4 inches in diameter and 30 feet tall. The beetles were frequent visitors to UV light in the late summer of 2006. I have four specimens dated between July 17th and August 2nd. 39.6008, -76.6425

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Melittomma sericeum - male Melittomma sericeum - male