Megapenthes tartareus
(LeConte, 1859)
Megapenthes tartareus is a of click beetle in the Elateridae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1859 from the basionym Elater tartareus. The species belongs to the Megapenthes, a group characterized by their ability to produce light through in some species. Records indicate it occurs in western North America, specifically British Columbia, Canada. As with many Megapenthes species, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Megapenthes tartareus: /ˌmɛɡəˈpɛnθiːz tɑːrˈtɑːriəs/
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Distribution
Recorded from British Columbia, Canada. The limited number of observations (21 on iNaturalist as of source date) suggests either restricted range, low abundance, or under-sampling.
More Details
Taxonomic history
Originally described as Elater tartareus by LeConte in 1859, later transferred to the Megapenthes. The genus Megapenthes C. G. Thomson, 1859 contains multiple bioluminescent , though not all members of the genus are known to produce light.
Data limitations
This has minimal published biological data. Most available information is limited to taxonomic catalogues and specimen records. The 21 iNaturalist observations suggest it is documented but not well-studied ecologically.