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Glowworm beetle

Zarhipis truncaticeps

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33.7476, -115.818

Field Notes

Description:

Male beetle attracted to stage lights. 1 cm total length

Habitat:

Colorado Desert 3000', Ceosote/ black brush scrub

Reference Links:

Species Zarhipis integripennis - Western Banded Glowworm - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

glowworm beetle

Zarhipis sp.
MichaelGeiser
1

Comments (3)
Robb Hannawacker
I regret that this crappy cropped-in iPhone shot is all I got on this guy. I was in a hustle to begin an evening program at the Cottonwood Campground. Thank you for the pointing out the likelihood that the beetle may be a unique find. Earlier that day, I photoed 3 Mallow Scrub-Hairstreaks (Strymon istapa) for our annual butterfly count. It was a first sighting with the national park.
kueda
I don't suppose you got a shot with the wings open or a shot of the head, did you? Evans and Hogue describe Z. truncaticeps as having a black abdomen from above and brown (not orange) areas around the mouthparts. As far as I can tell there aren't any pics of Z. truncaticeps on the web, so if this is what it is it would be a cool contribution. Given the range desc. in Evans and Hogue I think this could be either.
MichaelGeiser
Most likely Zarhipis truncaticeps Fall, 1923, which is quite a nice find! There is a closely related and more commonly found species, Zarhipis integripennis (the "western banded glowworm"). This looks very similar, but is supposedly not found in the Colorado Desert, where only Z. truncaticeps has been recorded.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Southern California Wildlife
Mission
California Coleoptera
Mission
Flora and Fauna of California Wilderness
Mission
Sonoran Desert - Plants and Animals
Mission
Joshua Tree National Park Biodiversity

Tags

Photographed
PublishedMarch 30, 2014

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