lady - Diomus amabilis - BugGuide.Net

Moved

… Abigail Parker, 20 April, 2011 - 8:53am

something in Nephus or Diomus?

That's where the postcoxal line is pointing me.

N. ornatus seems generally to have larger, more oval markings, and to be farther north (New England). I got excited about Diomus amabilis till I saw that it's got a pale head and pronotal margin. Right now I'm pondering D. myrmidon.

I don't have Gordon's work on Scymnini, so I'm going by the illustrations/maps in the 1985 work and by Horn's "Studies in Coccinellidae."(1)

… Abigail Parker, 14 April, 2011 - 10:08am

Thanks Abby

I'll try to check that ref over the weekend. Let me know if you'd like any other views.

… Tim Moyer, 15 April, 2011 - 12:08pm

anterior view might help

A nice frontal look at the head/pronotum, if you could :)

… Abigail Parker, 16 April, 2011 - 5:42pm

favor Diomus amabilis

after spending some time with Dr. Gordon's '76 ref., I'm fairly convinced this is Diomus amabilis. While it's a tad on the big side, it clearly has more parallel sides than does the illustrations of D. myrmidon. D. liebecki would be another candidate (type from "South Jersey") except for the absense of a yellow pronotum. Only other real possibility is D. floridana[/i], which Dr. Gordon notes from as far north as Virgina. As the key states, separating D. amabilis and D. floridana requires male internals. But unless you object, I'd suggest moving this one to D. amabilis.

… Tim Moyer, 19 April, 2011 - 9:24am

works for me!

D. amabilis was my top choice too. The elytra are just perfect, and I think being smack in D. amabilis's range and a few hundred miles north of D. floridana's makes that decision easy.

… Abigail Parker, 19 April, 2011 - 9:44am

I'll say it's working!

The camera, that is - what incredible detail! I will get on the ID track ASAP :)

… Abigail Parker, 14 April, 2011 - 9:32am