Anisodactylus nigrita

Can A. melanopus really be ruled out?

Or should these images go to subgenus level?

… Curt Harden, 31 August, 2022 - 5:05pm

In revisiting here many years later,

the smarter me now favors Anisodactylus melanopus based on the photographic suggestion of distinctly/minutely projected hind angles of the pronotum AND the relatively smooth/impunctate/shiny elytra. I have representatives of both species. A. nigrita has hind angles that are only obtusely angulate without distinct projections and the elytra are rather dull and uniformly/conspicuously punctate. There is no mistaking these two species when specimens are physically available. Thank you Curt for prodding.

… Peter W. Messer, 31 August, 2022 - 6:46pm

Moved

Moved from Subgenus Anisodactylus.

… v belov, 8 April, 2012 - 10:16pm

Images

I have a few more images if there is some detail that someone might want to see.

… John R. Maxwell, 8 April, 2012 - 6:52pm

Anisodactylus nigrita

is my best guess swayed by the characteristic two pairs of setigerous punctures located on clypeus which are visible in the maximum (editor's) enlargement of this image. Interestingly, the sole observation of a plurisetose clypeus would rule out Pseudoophonus.

… Peter W. Messer, 8 April, 2012 - 10:01pm

excellent --thanks again, Peter.

… v belov, 8 April, 2012 - 10:17pm

Moved

Moved from Ground Beetles.

… Brad Barnd, 8 April, 2012 - 1:18pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request. Thanks! Anisodactylus melanopus does look like a good possibility. I'll leave it here for Peter to see.

… John R. Maxwell, 7 April, 2012 - 11:19pm

hmm... i think i can rule Anisodactylus out --

which leaves us with H. (Pseudoophonus), doesn't it? must be ID'able --wanna hear from our carabid guys

… v belov, 7 April, 2012 - 5:52pm

i would lean towards

Anisodactylus sp.

… Brad Barnd, 7 April, 2012 - 6:49pm

fwiw, none of ne. spp. included in D&A key seems to fit

would love to learn what the options are...

… v belov, 7 April, 2012 - 6:59pm

why not

Anisodactylus melanopus?

… Brad Barnd, 7 April, 2012 - 7:55pm

pronotal depressions...

...look much more extensive and rugosely punctate in Max's beetle:

… v belov, 7 April, 2012 - 8:04pm

i see your point

but I think this is just due to lighting artifacts (the way my image was taken mutes out some of the texture for example); nevertheless, I hope Peter comments on this nice set of photographs

… Brad Barnd, 7 April, 2012 - 8:10pm

Anisodactylus

starting with couplet #15 on page 182 of Downie & Arnett (1996).

… Peter W. Messer, 8 April, 2012 - 9:12am