Monotomid - Aneurops convergens

Moved

… v belov, 24 June, 2011 - 5:48pm

It's taken long enough

But I'm pretty sure that this is Aneurops convergens. I just identified a few in the UGA collection, and this guy (girl actually) strongly resembles Aneurops convergens. Now, because it's not a male it doesn't have the cool hairy plaque, but I'm pretty sure that's what this one is.

… Tommy McElrath, 24 June, 2011 - 5:29pm

thanks, Tommy

… v belov, 24 June, 2011 - 5:50pm

Moved

Moved from Rhizophagus dimidiatus.

… v belov, 6 June, 2011 - 6:03pm

Not Rhizophagus

I'm positive that this guy is NOT Rhizophagus. Definitely a Monotomid, but not Rhizophagus. If I had to choose, I would choose Hesperobaenus or Europs for genus. I would need to see the side of the beetle to really make a judgement. An important character for these guys is the number of setigerous punctures on the inflexed part of the elytron.

… Tommy McElrath, 20 March, 2011 - 11:43am

Per Dr. Yves Bousquet, who wrote the Monotomidae chapter in American Beetles and who in 1990 reviewed the North American Rhizophagus, 'The species on the photographies is Rhizophagus dimidiatus Mannerheim, no doubt about it.'

… Jeff Gruber, 7 January, 2010 - 3:17pm

great!

based on the authorship, the species must go as far north as Alaska...
but if this is an unmistakable dimi~, the rest of images on this page must be smtg different... this just cannot be a mere intraspec. variation!

… v belov, 7 January, 2010 - 3:24pm

very surprised!

I use Bousquet's Rhizophagus revision extensively and have maybe a hundred that key well to R. dimidiatus from this area. His own description of Rhizophagus does not seem to allow for the "neck" or the two segmented club seen clearly in these images. I am really surprised!

… Rick Buss, 7 January, 2010 - 3:55pm

hmm --

great points here, Rick. infatti.

… v belov, 7 January, 2010 - 5:19pm

from Yves Bousquet:

"...the adult image ... does represent a specimen of Rhizophagus dimidiatus as stated. The antennal club appears 'normal'."

… v belov, 26 March, 2010 - 12:09pm

Moved

Moved from Root-eating Beetles.

… Jeff Gruber, 7 January, 2010 - 3:11pm

not sure

That looks overall similar to ones I have put as Aneurops convergens (Sharp), but I'm no expert. I have about 25 from NM and AZ. My females have almost completely glabrous microsculptured 1st abd. ventrite, but the males tend to have much longer hair than yours, and there is a distinct textured oval area with long hair where yours looks less defined. I have no Europs from this area, and my Hespero*baenus look very different. All of my "Aneurops" including the 2 females from Chiricahuas have uniformly dark brown elytra. So after all that: I'm not sure. Oh, and as usual, great photos Jeff.

… Rick Buss, 6 January, 2010 - 8:28am