Comb-clawed beetle? Alleculinae

NickU · #1 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 10:02 PM

Does anyone know their beetles well enough to confirm my tentative ID of this beetle as a Comb-clawed beetle: Tenebrioidae; Alleculinae; maybe Pseudocistela ceramboides ?

I photographed a very similar looking beetle in Corsica this year which was IDd on another forum as Omophlus lepturoides and there is a UK Omophlus species: O.rufitarsis, known only in the Weymouth area, but my beetle is maybe not reddish enough and looks like images I have found of P. ceramoboides which is more widely distributed in the UK.

27.6.10 near Bath, on Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium c 12mm

Fauna · #2 (**permalink**) 03-01-2011, 10:22 PM

It looks right for Pseudocistela ceramboides, i've never seen one myself but i believe this species is distinctive enough to id from a photo. And it seems to be the only one in its genus in the UK, so not sure if it can be confused with anything else?

Though i have just read that it can look Superficially like Lagria hirta, which yours is clearly not.

Matt Smith · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 12:04 AM

I've taken Pseudocistela ceramboides a couple of times and have reared it from a larva found in an old apple tree. Your photo looks good for this species to me.

NickU · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 09:24 AM

Many thanks, Matt. Good to get your confirmation of this. This subfamily was new to me when I photographed one in Corsica, but I was pretty sure this had to be a comb-clawed beetle when I saw one in the UK soon afterwards, and there are few species it could have been here!

Paul mabbott · #5 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 09:45 AM

Where does this term 'comb-clawed beetle' arise?

Fauna · #6 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 10:07 AM

Hi Paul.

Looks like it has come from the serated edge to their claws (pectinate). I believe Pectinate means - " having narrow parallel projections or divisions suggestive of the teeth of a comb"

NickU · #7 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 10:12 AM

Hi Paul

It's the common name for the Alleculinae subfamily of Tenebrionidae (darkling) beetles according to many sources I've come across.

Alleculinae (Subfamily)

Darkling Beetles - Subfamily Alleculinae - Comb-clawed Beetles Photo Gallery by Tom Murray at pbase.com

comb-clawed beetle (insect) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

As common names often vary regionally, and aren't always "common", I gave the family and subfamily name as well. As for why they're called that I guess it's down to the shape of the tarsi, but I don't have close enough views to see why!

Paul mabbott · #8 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 04:30 PM

Thanks Nick and Fauna - the dreaded common name that nobody knows! I've never heard of it (darklings yes). The structure of the claws isn't something the 'average' observer will note! Still, we live and learn ...

NickU · #9 (**permalink**) 04-01-2011, 07:57 PM

Oh yes, I'm certainly still learning.... and like you am quite wary of many common names especially for species as many people just seem to make them up as they go along! I think the "comb-clawed beetles" are better known in the US where they have more and the term is in regular use there, but we have so few species and they're little known, so they were well below my radar until recently as well.