Alobates
Motschulsky, 1872
Species Guides
2- Alobates barbatus
- Alobates pensylvanicus(false mealworm beetle)
Alobates is a of darkling beetles ( Tenebrionidae) established by Motschulsky in 1872. The genus contains at least two described in North America: A. barbatus and A. pensylvanicus. Species in this genus are frequently misidentified and require examination of structures for accurate determination.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Alobates: /əˈloʊbeɪtiːz/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
The two in this are distinguished by examination of the on the surface of the . Alobates barbatus possesses a tuft of long yellow setae on the mentum, while A. pensylvanicus lacks this feature. This character is the primary means of differentiating otherwise similar-appearing species.
Images
Distribution
North America.
Similar Taxa
- Other Tenebrionidae genera in Alobates are often misidentified as members of related darkling beetle due to general morphological similarity; accurate identification requires specific examination of the structure.
Misconceptions
The Alobates pensylvanicus is sometimes erroneously spelled 'pennsylvanica' or 'pensylvanica' in literature and databases.
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Etymology
The name likely derives from Greek 'alo' (variant of 'allo', meaning 'other') and 'bates' (meaning 'one who treads' or 'one who haunts').