Chalcolepidius
Eschscholtz, 1829
click beetles
Species Guides
6Chalcolepidius is a of click beetles ( Elateridae) comprising approximately 63 , with the majority distributed in the Americas. Species within this genus are typically large, metallic-colored beetles associated with woody vegetation. The genus was revised by Casari in 2002, and new distribution records continue to be documented, particularly in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Chalcolepidius: //ˌkælkoʊˈlɛpɪdiəs//
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Images
Habitat
have been collected from various woody plants including Baccharis sarothroides, Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), and other desert shrubs. Some species are associated with sap flows on living or damaged woody stems.
Distribution
occurs primarily in the Americas. In the United States, are documented from Arizona and surrounding southwestern states. In Mexico, at least 37 species are recorded from states including Chiapas, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Sonora.
Host Associations
- Baccharis sarothroides - occurrence collected from foliage and sap flows
- Prosopis glandulosa - occurrence collected from mesquite
- Mimosa dysocarpa
Similar Taxa
- other Elateridae generaLarge size and metallic coloration may superficially resemble other click beetles; Chalcolepidius typically distinguished by combination of size, metallic luster, and structural features of the pronotum and
- BuprestidaeMetallic coloration may cause confusion with jewel beetles; click beetles distinguished by the prosternal process fitting into a mesosternal cavity, allowing the characteristic 'click' mechanism