Gnathium californicum
(Wickham, 1905)
Gnathium californicum is a of blister beetle in the Meloidae, Nemognathinae. It is native to North America. Like other members of the Gnathium, it possesses elongated maxillary mouthparts adapted for nectar feeding from flowers with deep corollas. The species was described by Wickham in 1905.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Gnathium californicum: /ˈnæθiəm ˌkælɪˈfɔrnɪkəm/
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Distribution
North America. The occurs in the western United States, with museum records from California.
Similar Taxa
- Gnathium nitidumAnother North American Gnathium with similar elongated mouthparts and flower-feeding habits; distinguished by specific morphological details of the and body proportions.
- Gnathium minimumSmaller congeneric with overlapping range; G. californicum differs in size and specific mouthpart structure.
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- Meloidae Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
- Bug Eric: Wasp Wednesday: Blue Mud Dauber, Chalybion californicum
- Tents in the Mojave: Western tent caterpillar, Malacosoma californicum — Bug of the Week
- Bug Eric: Wasp Wednesday: Trypoxylon
- Pedantic Sunday: Blister beetles don’t suck | Beetles In The Bush
- Bug Eric: Wasp Wednesday: Chlorion aerarium