Macropogon piceus
LeConte, 1861
Pitchblack Soft-bodied Beetle
Macropogon piceus is a soft-bodied plant beetle in the Artematopodidae, first described by LeConte in 1861. It occurs in North America with records from western and central Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The is notable for its specific larval association with Paraleucobryum longifolium moss. As a member of the small family Artematopodidae, it represents one of relatively few documented species in this group of soft-bodied beetles.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Macropogon piceus: /ˌmækrəˈpoʊɡɒn ˈpaɪsiəs/
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Distribution
North America. Documented from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba in Canada. The full extent of its range within North America is not fully characterized.
Host Associations
- Paraleucobryum longifolium - associated with larvaemoss
More Details
Nomenclature
Authority: LeConte, 1861. The specific epithet 'piceus' refers to pitch-black coloration, consistent with the 'Pitchblack Soft-bodied '.
Data availability
Only 18 observations documented in iNaturalist as of data compilation. The remains poorly known with limited published biological information beyond larval association.