Arthromacra robinsoni
This record describes Arthromacra robinsoni (species). Recorded family: Tenebrionidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Field identification of species in this genus is difficult. It appears that the following are helpful in the ID of robinsoni : Both male and female in this species have an elongated apical antennal segment. See figure from original description: See Ciegler for discussion and key, as well as comments at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81509173 . This, and other Southeastern species long-confused with aenea on Citizen Science sites such as BugGuide and iNaturalist. The taxonomy of this genus is not quite certain, with some sources stating there is only one species, aenea . However a 1975 revision of this genus accepts three species for the Southeast, as well as some identifiable subspecies of aenea . This treatment was accepted in a 2014 work on beetles of South Carolina . See discussion here . The original description (Leng, 1914) notes that the color of both males and females is bright green, with perhaps a more brassy color in tenerals. All of the individuals I have found in the North Carolina Piedmont have been brassy, if not outright copper-colored. (Perhaps these are fairly fresh males?) Possibly the color changes in dried specimens. I might also speculate that the original describer (Robinson) was red-green colorblind, which I am not. That confusion between shades of green and reddish is characteristic of red-green color blindness (Patrick Coin-- Cotinis , 2/24/23).
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Tenebrionoidea
- Family
- Tenebrionidae (Darkling Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Lagriinae
- Tribe
- Lagriini
- Genus
- Arthromacra
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Old fields with emergent deciduous trees--taken from woody vegetation (Leng, 1914)
Geographic Range
Noted from the Piedmont of Virginia and the Carolinas . Additional BugGuide records from: Georgia . To be looked for in the Piedmont of Alabama and Maryland.
Seasonal Activity
May-July, typically June (references cited under range)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Arthromacra robinsoni. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Arthromacra robinsoni (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Cotinis
Frequently Asked Questions About Arthromacra robinsoni
What is Arthromacra robinsoni?
Arthromacra robinsoni is a species in the family Tenebrionidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Arthromacra robinsoni?
male 8 mm, female 11 mm
How do you identify Arthromacra robinsoni?
Field identification of species in this genus is difficult. It appears that the following are helpful in the ID of robinsoni : Both male and female in this species have an elongated apical antennal segment. See figure from original description: See Ciegler for discussion and key, as well as comments at https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/81509173 .
Where is Arthromacra robinsoni found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Old fields with emergent deciduous trees--taken from woody vegetation (Leng, 1914) |
| Range | Noted from the Piedmont of Virginia and the Carolinas . Additional BugGuide records from: Georgia . To be looked for in the Piedmont of Alabama and Maryland. |
When is Arthromacra robinsoni active?
Arthromacra robinsoni: seasonal activity - May-July, typically June (references cited under range).