Central-american-fauna
Guides
Euphoria biguttata
Euphoria biguttata is a species of flower chafer (subfamily Cetoniinae) in the scarab beetle family. The species was described in 1833 and is primarily distributed in Mexico and Central America, with rare records from the southwestern United States. As a member of the genus Euphoria, it shares the characteristic bee-mimic flight behavior and sap-feeding habits common to this group of flower scarabs. The specific epithet "biguttata" refers to two spots or markings, though detailed morphological descriptions are limited in available sources.
Nomada vegana
nomad bee
Nomada vegana is a species of kleptoparasitic nomad bee in the family Apidae, first described by Cockerell in 1903. As a member of the genus Nomada, it exhibits the characteristic cuckoo bee lifestyle of laying eggs in the nests of host bee species rather than constructing its own nests or collecting pollen. The species is known from Central America and North America, with iNaturalist recording over 1,800 observations. Like other Nomada species, it likely targets nests of Andrena or related ground-nesting bees as hosts.
Placopterus thoracicus
Black and Red Checkered Beetle
Placopterus thoracicus is a checkered beetle in the family Cleridae, commonly known as the Black and Red Checkered Beetle. It is distributed across Central America and North America, with records extending as far north as Manitoba, Canada. As a member of Cleridae, it belongs to a family of beetles often associated with predatory habits on other insects.