Small Beetle - Megatoma variegata

Moved

Moved from Megatoma.

… Jim McClarin, 22 March, 2007 - 4:09am

New specimen found

and collected. It seemed to be eating the wood on the house? Anyone interested in it, or should I release it?

… Lynette Elliott, 11 March, 2007 - 10:24pm

Hooray! Good heavens, keep it!

This beetle has raised untold numbers of eyebrows. If you can bear to put it in alcohol, do so. If not, just hang onto it till I get an expert lined up to examine it.

Meanhile, if you can get some more detailed photos of head, underside, antennae, side profile, and get an accurate body length (and don't let it escape), and post those shots, linking them to this one with a thumbnail maybe, that would be magnificant.

… Jim McClarin, 12 March, 2007 - 3:03am

Took a few quick shots this morning. Didn't get the profile yet. Measurement was taken at rest. I have a feeling it may get a little longer when it's walking....maybe 4.5 mm? See

… Lynette Elliott, 12 March, 2007 - 8:11am

Moved

Moved from Carpet Beetles.

… Jim McClarin, 18 February, 2007 - 6:30pm

Megatoma

I've heard from one more coleopterist who thinks this is probably a Megatoma species. I'm moving it to a brand-new genus page.

Meanwhile are there any other details about where and how this beetle was found that could be added?

… Jim McClarin, 18 February, 2007 - 6:26pm

Yikes,

sorry, no. I can't remember the exact circumstances where I found it. I guess I should take notes. :( However, my guess is that I found it on the outside windowsill of our house.

… Lynette Elliott, 18 February, 2007 - 8:10pm

Hi Lynette,

Arguments over the classification of this beetle have erupted in fisticuffs and death threats on three continents. Just kidding, but it has caused a bit of a stir. Here is part of a message from Andreas Hermann of dermestidae.com:

"I've forwarded the photo to Jiri Háva in Czech Republic, who recently is the only (active working) specialist of world Dermestidae as well as to Richard Beal in Preston/USA (he is the only living expert for Nearctic dermestids). Both of them are very good friends of mine since many years and both share my suggestion, that the photo shows a female Megatoma. But like me none of them is absolutely sure about this."

… Jim McClarin, 13 February, 2007 - 6:23pm

Not Dermestes

That's not a species of the genus Dermestes.

It is not easy to identify some dermestids only by pictures, therefore I need to have a closer look at the specimen itself. Unfortunately it seems to be a female, so I cannot identify it down to species level by examination of the genitalia (in some cases this could be necessary).

As far as the picture allows, I assume it belongs to the genus Megatoma or a related genus. The species is not pictured on my homepage at all and I've never seen it before.

Andreas Herrmann
Bremervoerder Strasse 123
D - 21682 Stade
Deutschland (Germany)
Tel. and Fax: ++ 49 (0) 721 / 151268497
E-mail: herrmann@coleopterologie.de
Internet: http://www.Dermestidae.com

… Jim McClarin, 10 February, 2007 - 6:29am

Moved

Ok, thanks.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 February, 2007 - 8:18am

Hi Lynette,

I searched through all the Dermestes on Dermestidae.com and failed to find this species. I think there's a good chance it belongs to another genus. I'll keep looking.

… Jim McClarin, 8 February, 2007 - 9:33pm

Moved

Moved from Carpet Beetles.

… Lynette Elliott, 8 February, 2007 - 9:19pm

probably Dermestes sp.

73477- probably Dermestes sp.

Dr. John M. Klingsolver
Florida State Collection of Arthropods
Gainsville, FL

… Jim McClarin, 8 February, 2007 - 1:10pm

Moved

Moved from Beetles. Thanks for both your comments.

… Lynette Elliott, 28 August, 2006 - 2:29pm

dermestid

It looks like some species of dermestid beetle...

… Joyce Gross, 28 August, 2006 - 1:05pm

Agreed.

What an ornate specimen! Nice image, Lynette.

… Eric R. Eaton, 28 August, 2006 - 1:10pm