Phaleromela variegata

Triplehorn, 1961

Variegated Darkling Beetle

Phaleromela variegata is a of in the , described by Triplehorn in 1961. The species occurs across northern and western Canada, including Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. As a member of the Tenebrionidae, it belongs to a diverse family of commonly known as darkling beetles, many of which are adapted to arid or semi-arid environments. The specific epithet 'variegata' suggests variable coloration, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources.

Phaleromela variegata by (c) Koji Shiraiwa, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Koji Shiraiwa. Used under a CC-BY license.

Phaleromela variegata (10.3897-zookeys.728.20602) Figure 38 by Bousquet Y, Thomas DB, Bouchard P, Smith AD, Aalbu RL, Johnston AM, Steiner WE Jr (2018) Catalogue of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) of North America. ZooKeys 728: 1-455. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.728.20602. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phaleromela variegata: /fæləroʊˈmiːlə ˌvɛəriːˈeɪɡətə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Can be distinguished from other Phaleromela by its coloration pattern and specific morphological characters established in Triplehorn's 1961 description. Differentiation from other in the same region requires examination of genitalic and other taxonomic characters detailed in the original description.

Images

Habitat

Northern and western Canadian including forest, taiga, and potentially tundra-edge environments based on recorded distribution.

Distribution

Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.

Similar Taxa

Other Phaleromela speciesSame , requiring careful examination of color pattern and morphological details for separation

More Details

Taxonomic history

Described by Triplehorn in 1961, representing one of the in the relatively small Phaleromela within the large .

Distribution pattern

The transcontinental northern distribution across western and central Canada suggests to cooler climates compared to many other which are more characteristic of warmer, drier regions.