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Enoclerus sp.
Small, super hairy Checkered Beetle with a pattern in scales in addition to both short and long spiny hairs, 8mm in length. The antennae are clubbed and the abdomen is bright red, both dorsally and ventrally. These are predators and it has very prominent mandibles. It runs very fast and flies readily (last picture). The hind wings are also patterned with brown. Family Cleridae.
Came to the garden lights, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2,200 meters.
Thank you to Boris Büche of iNaturalist for the identification. This beetle looks similar to Enoclerus sphegeus (the Red-bellied Clerid) which is found in the US and North and Central Mexico. Enoclerus sphegeus has a head full of white hair which this one does not, among other small differences in the elytral pattern. See: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1492730.
Spotted on Nov 29, 2018
Submitted on Dec 1, 2018
4 Comments
Thank you Neil. :)
Wonderful spotting, Lauren. Excellent photos and info too.
Thank you Rob, it is a remarkable little beetle and rarely seen.
Stunning series Lauren. Great looking bug.