Species Pachybrachis picturatus

Pale Coastal Carolina Pachy (?)

Pachybrachis picturatus (Germar)

Orig. Comb: Cryptocephalus picturatus Germar 1824

Length 2.6–3.3 mm (1)

a distinctive species with a combination of unique characters isolating it from the other members of the viduatus complex. The microsculpture and punctation of the dorsal surfaces are less strongly developed than in the other species, and the dark markings everywhere on the body are less developed. (1)

Pale whitish yellow, lustre dull, prothorax with a narrow black M, elytra with sutural bead and a single narrow median vitta attaining the convexity, and the tip of the shoulder knob, black; front without ocular lines; front claws of male not enlarged (2)

coastal GA to NC - Map (3), (NJ, PA reported by Riley et al. (2003)(4) are in error) (1) TL: NC

encountered once in high numbers on host plant on a swale between sand ridges (Emanuel Co., GA). (1)

mostly: Jun-Jul (2)

adults now known to be clearly asso. w/ Atlantic St. John’s-wort, (Hypericum tenuifolium, Clusiaceae) (1), ranges from coastal MS to FL to NC

Fall (1915) considered this to be one of our rarest Pachys (2), however Riley & Barney (2015) reported that it's sometimes abundant on it's host plant. (1)