Orange dermestid larva grows up! - Trogoderma ornatum

Trogoderma ornata, female

ID determined from specimen and photos by top US Dermestidae authority Richard Beal, who says, "T. ornatum is not particularly common, but is found in the eastern U. S. across the Great Plains. Adults are usually found on flowers. It is a species predatory on wasp and bee larvae found in tunnels in trees."

… Jim McClarin, 1 April, 2007 - 6:42am

Moved

Moved from Megatoma.

… Jim McClarin, 30 March, 2007 - 7:48pm

Moved

Moved from Carpet Beetles.

… Jim McClarin, 5 March, 2007 - 9:29am

likely female Megatoma

That's what Andreas Hermann of dermestidae.com says about this beetle. I wish I could quote him but I seem to have inadvertantly deleted his message. He also said there are several species that could be colored like this.

I don't know if species can be determined by examining a female but I can send the specimen to anyone who is qualified and willing to try.

… Jim McClarin, 5 March, 2007 - 9:28am

hint

Dear Jim,

you may try to contact my german colleague: Andreas Herrmann, for Dermestids. I think he will like to fix up the bugguide gallery . . .

contact: herrmann*at*coleopterologie.de

regards, Boris

p.s.: This is a really nice one!

… Boris Büche, 1 March, 2007 - 6:42am

Andreas is already a contact of mine.

I have visited his site a number of times looking for matches to bugguide images, including this one. I'm still trying to decide which of several possibilities this one is and will ask Andreas to have a look at it soon.

… Jim McClarin, 1 March, 2007 - 3:09pm