Blaps lethifera
Marsham, 1802
Blaps lethifera is a darkling beetle ( Tenebrionidae) native to the Palaearctic region. It has established in the United Kingdom, Finland, and Sweden. The presents significant identification challenges, particularly for females, which are considered impossible to identify with certainty using current methods.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Blaps lethifera: /blæps lɛˈθɪfərə/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Males can be identified with approximately 98% using two features: the shape of the ventroapical projection of protarsomere 5 (a leg segment) and the of the (male reproductive structure). No single character is reliable for identification. Females cannot be identified with certainty. Specimens may resemble intermediate forms between , complicating .
Images
Distribution
Native to the Palaearctic region. in the United Kingdom, Finland, and Sweden. Distribution records also include the Azores islands: Faial, Flores, São Jorge, São Miguel, and Terceira.
Human Relevance
Considered an in northern Europe (UK, Finland, Sweden).
More Details
Taxonomic authority
Marsham, 1802
Identification difficulty
Considered one of the more challenging Blaps to identify due to high morphological variability and lack of reliable single traits.