Black on black - Rhyzobius forestieri

Black on black - Rhyzobius forestieri

Alameda County, California, USA
March 5, 2011
Size: 3.9 mm bl

Rescued from a spider web. The dark black shape on a lighter black background on the elytra was easier to see in reality than in photos. The bug flew away before I could shoot other views. Its ventral surface had some orange.

Contributed by R. Berg on 6 March, 2011 - 4:09pm
Last updated 29 June, 2011 - 12:01pm

Moved

Moved from Rhyzobius.

… R. Berg, 29 June, 2011 - 12:01pm

R. forestieri, by size

R. lophanthae is never more than 3mm long, while R. forestieri can be almost 4mm long. That and the uniformly dark color have got me convinced! I'll create a new page for you to move this into. Nice work!

… Abigail Parker, 29 June, 2011 - 8:43am

Sorry to hijack the page

But do you know what forestieri is derived from? Assume it is a name, but is it "Forestie", Forestier", "Foresti", etc.?

… James Bailey, 16 September, 2015 - 10:07pm

"Forestier"

From Mulsant's original description of the species:

"J'ai dédié cette espèce a M. l'abbé Forestier, prêtre mariste, qui continue à explorer avec zèle les îles de l'Océanie."

I haven't been able to track down a first name yet.

Mulsant, M.E. 1853: Supplément a la Monographie des Coléoptères Trimerès Sécuripapes. Annales de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon (n.s.), 2 2(1852-1853), p. 286.

… Abigail Parker, 22 January, 2016 - 8:04pm

Moved

Moved from Scymninae.

… R. Berg, 22 June, 2011 - 11:57am

Rhyzobius, not sure which

The two lengths of setae and apparently long antennae point to Rhyzobius rather than Scymnus. This might be the elusive R. forestieri, limited to California, but I can't say for sure. It can go to genus, though.

… Abigail Parker, 22 June, 2011 - 11:02am

Black on black - Rhyzobius forestieri

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