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Lepispilus rotundicollis Family Tenebrionidae
A sooty black beetle about 12mm long with grooved elytra and small white markings giving it a mottled look. The body was slightly elongated and slightly rounded. The thorax had shallow depressions- one along the middle and one along either side. Antennae were moderately long and beaded. Tarsi had sickle shaped hooks ( pic #1)
Spotted clinging to a branchlet of a casuarina tree.
The hooks in the tarsi might suggest that this beetle is a climber ?? My thanks to martinl for the ID and weblinks
Spotted on Oct 30, 2012
Submitted on Nov 6, 2012
7 Comments
Brilliant ! Thanks so much Martin - so happy to have a scientific name for this beetle.
Nice, Leuba, that's better than my photo too.
Darkling beetle (Tenebrionidae)
Lepispilus rotundicollis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boobook48/4...
http://lifeunseen.com/index2_item_3787.p...
Thanks Sergio :) :)... just can't believe the first shot is so clear and the others blurry. Well, the handsome beetle had to be put up - maybe a better picture next time.
I love those sickle hooked tarsii.... maybe for climbing around on bark?
Hey, who was saying something about being able to photograph galls only? This is an amazing beetle, one of the most beautiful ones I've seen. Congratulations, Leuba. BTW, if I was a biologist, I'd probably study galls. The way they interact with the plants is amazing.
Leuba,that's a magnificent capture,beautifuly spotted,congrats and thanks for sharing