Hyperaspis sp.? - Hyperaspis troglodytes

These are all so confusing

spot pattern is similar to Brachiacantha decempustulata. (just feeling frustrated trying to figure out what I have)

… John R. Maxwell, 8 July, 2011 - 9:40am

look for the foreleg spur

All Brachiacantha have it, all Hyperaspis don't.

… Abigail Parker, 8 July, 2011 - 11:29am

Moved

Moved from Lady Beetles.

… Abigail Parker, 27 April, 2011 - 7:05am

suggestion: Hyperaspis troglodytes

The only Hyperaspis spp. that have the "five spot" pattern like this are in the disconotata group, which has females with all-black pronota like yours. H. disconotata itself has more elongated oval spots:

We don't have H. troglodytes in BG yet, but I happen to have just done an illustration of it (which is apparently too yellow). A photo of the type specimen at Harvard's MCZ and my drawing are on my blog: http://www.butterflypsyche.com/blog/2011/04/20/project-lbb-drawing-workflow/. I swear I'm not doing shameless self-promotion, just that that's the quickest link I've got :-)

… Abigail Parker, 25 April, 2011 - 11:32am

looks like it...will work on ID

I don't see any foreleg spurs, although the pattern looks a lot like the "five-spot" Brachiacantha ursina group, so I'd go with Hyperaspis too. It's a female, which makes it harder to ID species, but I can probably get it at least to group...I'll see what I can do :)

… Abigail Parker, 25 April, 2011 - 7:59am

Do you need other angles?

I appreciate any help you can give on this beetle. Thanks Abigail.

… tom murray, 25 April, 2011 - 8:58am

dorsal and ventral would be great

Straight-down dorsal and ventral would help, and a posterior shot might also be useful for determining the exact apical spot position. Thanks!

… Abigail Parker, 25 April, 2011 - 10:49am

Dorsal shot added

I didn't take a ventral or posterior shot before I let her go. It does look a lot like the Hyperaspis troglodytes you linked with your wonderful drawing!

… tom murray, 26 April, 2011 - 10:55pm

thanks!

For both the dorsal shot and the compliment :-) I think this has to be H. troglodytes, nothing else comes close. Another new one for BG!

… Abigail Parker, 27 April, 2011 - 7:03am