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Photo#511994
ID for another tiny beetle on Horkelia? - Eschatocrepis constrictus

ID for another tiny beetle on Horkelia? - Eschatocrepis constrictus
Claremont, Los Angeles County, California, USA
April 29, 2011
Size: Approx. 2.5-3 mm
This tiny beetle was spotted on Wedge-Leaf Honeydew, Horkelia cuneata ssp. puberula, at the Claremont Colleges' Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station.

H. cuneata ssp. puberula is seriously endangered and in decline in California, but the factors contributing to its decline and are not known. We are collaborating with a University of California, Riverside, graduate student who is helping to develop a conservation plan for this plant species.

Nothing is known about the pollination biology of H. cuneata ssp. puberula, so identifying key pollinators could be important in developing an effective conservation plan. This beetle was one of two kinds that were very common on the flowers. Any information about its identity will be greatly appreciated!

These photos of another individual photographed the following day aren't as clear overall, but may show some useful details:

Moved
Moved from Dasytinae.

Eschatocrepis
This is almost certainly Eschatocrepis constrictus, as are the beetles in the photos from the following day.

Moved
Moved from Trichochrous. So far all the similar Melyrids we’ve collected from the Horkelia have turned out to be Eschatocrepis constrictus, not Trichochrous. It's impossible to tell from this photo whether this beetle is also Eschatocrepis constrictus or whether it's a different species, so it’s more accurate to place it in the subfamily. Many thanks to Adriean Mayor for catching this!

Moved Tentatively.
Moved from Beetles.

 
Thanks!
I think Hartmut Wisch has collected a specimen and will be able to post better photos soon. If confirmed, this genus will be a new addition to our field station invert list.

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