Brachinus 2 - Brachinus imporcitis

Moved

… Brad Barnd, 14 November, 2011 - 8:49pm

Brachinus imporcitis

Wendy Moore at the UA insect collection examined the particular specimen that is pictured here and confirmed it to be B. imporcitis

… Eric Moody, 8 November, 2011 - 10:32am

Thank you

for following up.

… Peter W. Messer, 8 November, 2011 - 12:32pm

Brachinus nr. imporcitis Erwin, 1970

tentatively based on my microscopic examination of this specimen which is now a photo-voucher in the P.W.Messer collection. Thanks Eric.

This small species is known only from AZ with records from Cochise County documented by Erwin (1970).

The voucher specimen would fit B. imporcitis in the taxonomic key by Erwin, except for the annoying observation that the 3rd antennomeres are completely pale. But surprisingly, the image does show the required darkened 3rd antennomeres. I therefore wonder if the voucher is the same as the specimen photographed here? If indeed the same specimen, I can not explain the discrepancy in coloration of the 3rd antennomeres. I measured the voucher to be ~ 7 mm long.

… Peter W. Messer, 5 September, 2011 - 7:03pm

could be different specimen

I had three of these in a vial together, and the other two I have pinned here. I may have accidentally sent a different specimen to you than the one that is pictured. I can check the two specimens I have tomorrow for the darkened 3rd antennomere.

… Eric Moody, 5 September, 2011 - 8:02pm

More specimens

of this kind for me to examine would certainly help establish the identity. Please understand that there needs to be a one-to-one correspendence of image-to-specimen for the photo-vouchering process to work. Thanks Eric.

… Peter W. Messer, 5 September, 2011 - 8:22pm

sorry!

Both specimens I have possess the darkened 3rd antennomere as is pictured in this one. I should have been more careful to send the exact specimen that I photographed. These three were all from the same collection event, do you think the 3rd one that I sent could be something else?

… Eric Moody, 6 September, 2011 - 2:58pm

Possibly different species.

Eric, if it is important to you (it is to me for resolving a difficult determination), I suggest that you mail me the other two specimens from same collection event. I would mail you back one of them, assuming same species.

… Peter W. Messer, 6 September, 2011 - 5:28pm