Euderces picipes

(Fabricius, 1787)

Euderces picipes is a small -mimicking in the . The exhibits pronounced geographic color variation: northern are uniformly black, while southern and southwestern populations display red or orange coloration on the or elytral edges. This color was formerly considered to represent separate species, with red forms described as E. abdominalis, but is now recognized as intraspecific variation correlated with geographic distribution. Like other members of the , are effective Batesian mimics of ants.

Euderces picipes by (c) skitterbug, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by skitterbug. Used under a CC-BY license.

Euderces picipes by no rights reserved, uploaded by Kristi Zoebelein. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Euderces picipes: /juːˈdɜːrsiːz ˈpaɪsɪpiːz/

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Identification

Small with -like appearance. Body slender, typically 7–10 mm in length. Coloration geographically variable: northern specimens uniformly black; southern specimens with red or orange abdominal margins or entirely red . or pale markings on create illusion of constricted ant-like waist. relatively short for . Distinguished from similar ant-mimic cerambycids (Molorchus, Cyrtophorus, Tilloclytus) by combination of size, color pattern, and antennal proportions.

Images

Distribution

Eastern and central United States; recorded from Canada (Ontario, Québec). Northern (New England through Great Lakes region) characterized by black coloration; southern and southwestern populations exhibit red or orange color .

Similar Taxa

Euderces piniConvergent - and overlapping geographic range; distinguished by smaller size (7–8 mm), more slender build, and association with different trees including flowering dogwood and pecan
Cyrtophorus verrucosusSimilar -mimicking with comparable size and coloration; distinguished by different elytral markings and pronotal structure
Molorchus bimaculatusAnother small -mimic active in early spring; distinguished by smaller size (<10 mm), more convex body profile, and different elytral pattern