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Project Noah Nature School
Calopteron discrepans
The net-winged beetles are in the family Lycidae. They are soft bodied and soft winged. This beetle is 2 cm long, with 3 characteristics that make it C. discrepans instead of C. reticulatum: 1) the central basal black band on the elytra is broader where it meets the scutellum, 2) the second antennal segment is black and 3) the metasternum is also black.
This one was walking around on the rocks in a heavily wooded, protected, tropical forested park, The Chorreadero, about 10 km above Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico. See also: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/378...
Most of the Lycids are distasteful to birds and other predators. This has resulted in a wide variety of other insects that mimic this beetle for protective purposes. Lycid mimics include other types of beetles such as Longhorns, also moths, flies, and true bugs. Some of the moth mimics are so similar to the beetle that it requires a close inspection in the field. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/252....
Spotted on Nov 21, 2012
Submitted on Nov 24, 2012
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