Arthromacra

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
Family: Tenebrionidae
Subfamily: Lagriinae
Tribe: Lagriini
Genus: Arthromacra

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Arthromacra: //ˌɑːr.θroʊˈmæk.rə//

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

Images

Arthromacra aenea by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Darkling Beetle - Arthromacra aenea, Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Arthromacra aenea (47156231682) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Summary

Arthromacra is a genus of beetles within the family Tenebrionidae and is represented by four species in North America, with A. aenea being the most widespread. The genus has undergone taxonomic revisions that now recognize three species in the southeastern United States.

Physical Characteristics

Size ranges from 9-15 mm. Field identification may be difficult, but the species Arthromacra robinsoni and Arthromacra pilosella are fairly distinctive in photographs.

Identification Tips

Field identification at the species level can be challenging, but certain species like robinsoni and pilosella can be reliably recognized in photographs. Comments on iNaturalist indicate that appalachiana can also be recognized reliably.

Distribution

Widespread in North America, specifically from Nova Scotia and Manitoba to Georgia, with additional species found in the southeastern Appalachian area (Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina).

Cultural Significance

Named after Colonel Wirt Robinson, an American naturalist known for his contributions to natural history and entomology.

Misconceptions

Some Southeastern species of Arthromacra have been confused with A. aenea on citizen science platforms due to misidentification from experience in the Northeastern United States and Canada.