Meloe ajax
Pinto, 1998
Meloe ajax is a of blister beetle in the Meloidae, first described by Pinto in 1998. It belongs to the subgenus Treiodous within the Meloe. The species is known from North America. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to share the characteristic oil beetle and involving , though specific details for this species remain undocumented in the provided sources.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Meloe ajax: //ˈmɛloʊ i ˈeɪdʒæks//
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Distribution
North America. The precise range within North America is not specified in available sources, though the type series consists of 2 held in the Entomology Research Museum collection.
More Details
Type Specimens
The is represented by 2 in the Meloidae Holdings of the Entomology Research Museum (J. Pinto collection, April 20, 2010). No information is provided in the available sources.
Taxonomic Placement
Meloe ajax is placed in the subgenus Treiodous, which also includes M. afer, M. barbarus, M. gracilicornis, and M. laevis. This subgenus is characterized within the larger Meloe by specific morphological features, though the defining traits for M. ajax specifically are not detailed in available literature.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Meloidae Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
- The Amazing Bee-Parasite Research of Leslie Saul-Gershenz | Bug Squad
- Ground nesting bees beware of blister beetles - Meloe spp. — Bug of the Week
- Blistering beetles - Meloe spp. — Bug of the Week
- Springing into action – oil beetles and citizen science! - Buglife Blog - Buglife