shoegazer
L3
So here's something some of you might find interesting.
While out roadcruising a few weeks ago, I collected several Eleodes suturalis and hispilabris. I also collected what I thought at first to be the most enormous suturalis I'd ever seen. While all the other suturalis I was catching were between 22-25mm, this one was 33m! On closer inspection now, I think it may be a hybrid between the two or a new species entirely. The elytra and pronotum are sort of intermediate between the more rounded hispilabris and the flared suturalis. Also, it can't be seen in the photos, but the purple coloration also exists on the "ventral-facing" surfaces of the elytra, which I've never seen on any individual of these two species.
Finally, though it is in with several males of both species (which readily mount females of the opposite species), I have yet to see any males show interest in this one.
L to R: suturalis, unknown, hispilabris
L to R: Unknown, suturalis, hispilabris
Top to Bottom: hispilabris, unknown, suturalis
While out roadcruising a few weeks ago, I collected several Eleodes suturalis and hispilabris. I also collected what I thought at first to be the most enormous suturalis I'd ever seen. While all the other suturalis I was catching were between 22-25mm, this one was 33m! On closer inspection now, I think it may be a hybrid between the two or a new species entirely. The elytra and pronotum are sort of intermediate between the more rounded hispilabris and the flared suturalis. Also, it can't be seen in the photos, but the purple coloration also exists on the "ventral-facing" surfaces of the elytra, which I've never seen on any individual of these two species.
Finally, though it is in with several males of both species (which readily mount females of the opposite species), I have yet to see any males show interest in this one.
L to R: suturalis, unknown, hispilabris
L to R: Unknown, suturalis, hispilabris
Top to Bottom: hispilabris, unknown, suturalis
