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Photo#8485
Merinus laevis

Merinus laevis
Treyburn area, Durham County, North Carolina, USA
November 2, 2004
Size: 24 mm
Found next to a lighted window. It dropped down to a sidewalk as I manipulated it for photography. Length was 24 mm, or a bit more. The large size and nearly smooth elytra, plus the wide legs, are distinctive. I had previously thought this was a species of Alobates, but looking at
Identification keys for Florida Tenebrionidae
, Subfamily Coelometopinae, I see the very distinctive Merinus laevis, size 18-26 mm, one North American member in genus, occurs in N. Florida. Looks pretty distinctive. See species guide page for references--this is apparently a widespread species, it just happens not to be in Dillon. (1)