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Photo#84101
family unknown - Tritoma angulata

family unknown - Tritoma angulata
Litchfield, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA
October 18, 2006
Size: about 3.5 mm
I found this well-preserved little beetle in the window sill between the window pane and the storm window. It has a thin margin around the elytra and pronotum and the base of the elytra wrap around the sides to a degree I haven't seen previously.

Images of this individual: tag all
family unknown - Tritoma angulata family unknown - Tritoma angulata family unknown - Tritoma angulata family unknown - Tritoma angulata

Moved
Moved from Darkling Tritoma.

Moved

Moved
Moved from Beetles.

Phaedon viridis
I think this is Phaedon viridis; a Chrysomelid (subf. Chrysomelinae)

 
Very interesting
I found a Web image of that species that does resemble this one, at least the portions shown. I note however that the species is said to be metallic and there was nothing metallic-looking about this one that I could see. (Yo be fair, neither does the one in their photo appear mettallic.) Also the somewhat clubbed antennae of that species do not appear to be as pronounced as this one's antennal clubs.

 
sorry
I´ll take back the Phaedon suggestion. Though it looks very similar the club is more pronounced indeed. The difference between articles 8 and 9 is very big, suggesting Erotylidae.

Erotylidae
I think. If so, it is probably a Triplax. Say it for me please. The tarsi are clearly expanded, which tosses out Tenebrionidae, but can't count the tarsomeres to be sure of Erotylidae. Usually erotylids have more compact antennal clubs.

 
Saved, sort of...
I'll put it in a vial of alcohol along with its antennal clubs, which broke off as I turned the specimen with my fine watercolor brush.

I think this would be my first erotylid from the northern hemisphere. I note there are five species of Triplax listed for New Hampshire:
T. dissim*ulator
T. fla*vicollis
T. fro*sti
T. ma*cra
T. thor*acica

 
?
I was originally thinking Platydema. Triplax looks like worth a look, maybe Tritoma. On the other hand it might not even be an Erotylid.

start with
looks like one of the Darkling Beetles, decidely one of the smaller ones. If not that, would have to key out, nothing else rings a bell.

 
That was my first thought too,
but the eyes didn't have that dull tenebrionid look to them, nor could I think of a tenebrionid with antennal clubs like this one's.

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