Melanactes puncticollis

Moved

… Blaine Mathison, 16 November, 2011 - 5:23pm

Brad, I am almost certain this is puncticollis and not consors. I am having some issues with the published geographic distribution of consors (supposed to be Midwest but I think I have one from NC). However, given the length:width ratio of pronotum this is most-certainly puncticollis.

If this was one I mis-identified, sorry--I just not got Mathieu's 1961 revision of the genus.

… Blaine Mathison, 8 May, 2011 - 6:21pm

Hmmm

This was my ID; you haven't seen it, yet. I'll have to run my Melanactes by you sometime.

I choose M. consor over M. puncticollis because this beetle has a very densely punctate pronotum (and puncticollis is sparsely punctate ??). I do remember these guys being difficult to wrap my head around, and I probably never got there.

… Brad Barnd, 8 May, 2011 - 6:32pm

Melanactes

in Mathieu (1961), pronotal denseness doesnt separate those two, but rather length:width ratio of pronotum and distribution. THey are supposed to be allometrically separated, thei consors in OK, KS, etc and puncticollis more eastern.

My problem in the key is interpreting the degree of "impressed" striae in separating morio from puncticollis.

Uggh, this genus is not as easy as it seems....:)

… Blaine Mathison, 8 May, 2011 - 6:37pm

Ditto

I had difficulty with "impressed striae" as well. I hope I got at least one of mine to the right species! lol

Feel free to move this one as you see fit. I'll make a note that I need to send you mine sometime.

… Brad Barnd, 8 May, 2011 - 6:53pm

let's leave here

until I have specimen in hand. That way it will only need to be moved once (in case something other than puncticollis).

… Blaine Mathison, 8 May, 2011 - 6:55pm