Physocephala floridana

The detailed original species description of P. floridana appears on pg. 214 of Camras (1957), and keys including this species appear at the end of the references by Camras (1957,1996). It is closest in form to P. tibialis but has a distinctive gestalt within the genus arising from its: 1) robust chunkiness; 2) unusually deep-black, often bluish-glossy, wing infuscation; and 3) unusual coloration...its dark black contrasting with deep red on significant portions of the thorax, head, and legs (mainly tibiae in the latter). Note, in particular, that the color pattern on the frons can vary significantly...from having a moderately-wide T-shaped marking (black medially surrounded by white... which is the common pattern in many other Physocephala species) to, more often, having the medial stripe much wider (sometimes filling the entire frons) and being reddish (or mottled black & red). This is unique in our area (i.e north of Mesoamerica)...the posts below illustrate some of the variation: Various BugGuide posts from east Texas (mostly humid, roughly gulf-adjacent areas thereof)...as well as localities far north of Florida between Philadelphia and Rhode Island...suggest the range of this species was poorly known earlier and/or is expanding. The disjunct northern stations are particularly puzzling: it's unclear whether they represent recently-established and possibly growing populations of P. floridana (perhaps introduced by human activity); or whether they were present historically (but previously overlooked); or if they may be arising as sporadic mutants from P. tibialis (and thus perhaps be something other than P. floridana )? For more on this, see the this forum article .