Shining Fungus Beetle - Baeocera falsata

excellent -- thanks Don

Moved from Baeocera.

… v belov, 24 July, 2014 - 1:05pm

Baeocera falsata

it is. A measured 2.5 mm (not as big as was rumored), but certainly among the biggies for Baeocera. Fortunately it keys out well before the series of species where the male genitalia are required in Loebl and Stephan's revision.

… Donald S. Chandler, 24 July, 2014 - 12:55pm

Moved tentatively; indeed, large Baeocera of this gestalt...

...are quite common in E. Asia; i'm very curious to see the vouchered ID

Moved from Scaphisomatini.

… v belov, 21 July, 2014 - 2:32pm

Moved

Moved from Shining Fungus Beetles.

… v belov, 18 July, 2014 - 10:52am

This is definitely Scaphisoma

This is definitely Scaphisomatini, I think the pronotum in this case has a lobe covering the scutellum, and thus appears as a scutellum. Probably one of the more chunky Baeocera species.

Cheers,
Adam

… Adam Brunke, 18 July, 2014 - 10:31am

why not?

Scaphidium piceum. It is the only large, black species in our area.

… Donald S. Chandler, 13 July, 2014 - 10:46am

Scaphidium all have characteristic coarse puctures ...

...along both the pronotal and elytral bases and conspicuously clavate antennae; their body is not flattened like here and differs in the outline, too

… v belov, 13 July, 2014 - 12:49pm

stunned... a bit dark but i think i can see the scutellum

...which kinda rules out Scaphisomatini.
my first instinct was, Cyparium -- but the antenna looks too long and slender for that one, not to mention the fact there aren't any in the Northeast...
what am i missing? curious about size, too -- seems quite hefty.
dying to hear from colleagues.

… v belov, 12 July, 2014 - 1:57pm

more pics added

I didn't measure it, but I'd say it was close to 5mm. I found it on the trunk of a black birch tree, and it never moved fast like most of these guys do.

… tom murray, 12 July, 2014 - 2:06pm

close to 5 mm is exactly what it looks to me

good news, 'cuz it confirms it's not a scaphisomatine
would you show it to Don and Adam? without prejudice to any third-party preemptive right that may exist, that is ))))

… v belov, 12 July, 2014 - 2:56pm

emails sent

Hopefully the pictures are enough to get further with this ID. If not I'll see where the specimen should go.

… tom murray, 12 July, 2014 - 3:27pm