Crooked Beak Workshop

Merry Christmas, 2011Repost:Winslow Homer

2011-12-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Sick Chicken
Winslow Homer (1836-1910) was an American landscape painter and is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America.

Winslow Homer - The Complete Works
As an aspiring - and tormented - watercolorist, works like this, among many of his other paintings, give me a moment of pause and personal reflection. I present it this morning as a change from my usual entomological rantings.

4. Postcards from the rightside of the brain:

2011-01-08T17:14:00.012-07:00

Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area,
Cochise County, Arizona

Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area, formerly a cattle ranch, located at the south end of Sulphur Springs Valley, Cochise County, is considered one of the premier wildlife viewing sites in southeast Arizona. Several seasonal and permanent ponds surrounded by native vegetation provide habitat for a wide variety of migrating and resident birds, amphibians, and reptiles. It is particularly well known as one of the main wintering areas for the Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis (Linnaeus), where, from approximately mid-October to March, as many as 30,000 cranes seek refuge. In addition, a number of shore birds and raptors, including Golden and Bald Eagles, overwinter throughout the area. Most notably, it is known to support a year-round colony of Vermilion Flycatchers - the subject of a future post.

© Delbert La Rue 2011. All Rights Reserved.

3. Notes on Dinacoma Casey, 1889:Will the real marginata please stand up?

2011-01-07T02:15:00.013-07:00

My taxonomic review gained substance with the addition of the heretofore "unknown" female morphology. As I mentioned in Part 2., since the time T.L. Casey proposed the genus, well over 100 years ago, females have remained undescribed. As a result, prior taxonomic diagnoses of Dinacoma, including comparisons with other closely related genera, were based exclusively upon a composite of male morphological characters. This hadn't been a significant problem because only two species were considered to comprise the genus. So, to prior authors and collectors, it was either/or. However, some recent studies of other conterminous genera of Melolonthini, for example, Phyllophaga Harris (Woodruff 2004), and Polyphylla Harris (La Rue 1998), had shown that females have morphological characters that are supplemental to interspecific diagnostic criteria. I suspected the same in Dinacoma. My hopes were that they would assist in determining the taxonomic status of several extant demes that didn't quite "fit" the prior morphological definition of D. marginata as mentioned in Part 1.

Dinacoma caseyi Blaisdell
Male ~ Female
Compared to male Dinacoma, females exhibit an accentuated sexual dimorphism characterized by a heavy somatic profile; large, convex abdomeres with strongly arcuate sutures; reduced antennal structure with ovate, straight or feebly curved lamellate club; shortened apical maxillary palpomeres; pronotum sharply convex, sometimes with a pronounced setigerous and/or squamal vestiture; clypeus shallow with moderately reflexed margins; short, robust protibia with corresponding dentition, proximal tooth prominent; meso-, and metatibiae distally more divergent with greater number of apical spines; meso-, and metatibial spurs broader, flatter and short; enlarged metafemora; tarsomeres shorter; curvilinear ridge pattern of tarsal claws reduced or absent. Several of these latter characters are presumably fossorial adaptations.

Desert Wash
Colorado Desert, Riverside County
Habitat of Dinacoma caseyi Blaisdell
Although provided with fully developed metathoracic wings, female Dinacoma do not exhibit flight behavior. Similar behavior has been observed in some species of closely related Melolonthini including Polyphylla Harris, Thyce LeConte, and Amblonoxia Harris, among several others. It has been posited that loss of flight is favored among females because it permits greater allocation of metabolic resources toward production of ova while flight is retained in males because it increases the probability of mate location. This is supported by the fact that males have larger antennal structures and longer lamellate antennomeres, therefore greater surface area. For this reason, males are presumed to have a superior ability in chemoreception of pheromones emitted by prospective mates.

Other theories suggest an evolutional preference to flightlessness where dispersal ability is not essential toward long term survival of species in ecologically stable environments ("environmental homogeneity" Roff 1990). Thus, the success of progeny is enhanced by preserving genomes that are favorable in the existing environment. Moreover, among desert insects, flightlessness may have evolved because dispersing individuals experience high rates of mortality as well as higher desiccation from flight activity (Wagner and Liebherr 1992).

End of Part 3.

Literature Cited
La Rue, D.L. 1998. Notes on Polyphylla Harris with a description of a new species. (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae). Insecta Mundi 12(1/2):23-37

Roff, D. A. 1990. The evolution of flightlessness in Insects. Ecological Monographs 60(4):389-421.

Wagner, D. L. & Liebherr, J. K. 1992. Flightlessness in Insects. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 7:216-220.

Woodruff, R.E. 2004. Revision of the Phyllophaga of Hispaniola (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Insecta Mundi 18(1-4):1-154.

© Delbert La Rue 2011. All Rights Reserved.

~ Best Wishes & Happy New Year ~2011

2011-01-01T12:29:00.006-07:00

For last year's words belong to last year's language,
And next year's words await another voice,
And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

Argemone pleiacantha – Southwestern Pricklypoppy

The Jewel of Rain Beetles:Pleocoma staff Schaufuss, 1870

2010-12-21T20:34:00.005-07:00

I am indebted to Brady Richards for permission to post his fine photo that originally appeared at BugGuide.com.

2. Notes on Dinacoma Casey, 1889:Will the real marginata please stand up?

2010-12-16T12:00:00.037-07:00

Continued from Part 1. ...

With the Type of D. marginata at hand, including a rare exemplar from Blaisdell's belated designated type locality, Ocean Beach, I examined, borrowed, or collected as many Dinacoma as possible. Specifically, those specimens or populations that were morphologically similar to D. marginata - or, what I henceforth refer to as the "marginata species group."

From studying Dinacoma ecology and bionomics, I was fortunate to rediscover George's Baja population, the impetus for this project, that he had collected in the late 1960s, at two separate alluvial drainages.

Dinacoma sp. near marginata
Baja California, Mexico
Male ~ Female
The Pleistocene coalesced alluvial fans and valleys along the Pacific slope of the San Jacinto Mountains, in Riverside County, were surveyed and sampled.

Bautista Canyon, San Jacinto Mountains
Representatives of the extant San Diego County coastal populations - Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Encinitas - were collected, as well as the desert transition Scissor's Crossing deme.

Dinacoma marginata (Casey, 1886)
Left to Right: Del Mar, Torrey Pines, Encinitas
San Diego Co., California
Males
Dinacoma sp. near marginata
San Felipe Valley/Scissors Crossing
San Diego Co., California
Male ~ Female
I was able to locate one specimen collected in the 1970s from Eaton Canyon, in the San Gabriel Mountains, representing the Los Angeles County demes. Despite a search of the Alan Hardy collection, housed at the California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, I didn't find any Dinacoma reflecting his Glendale, Los Angeles County, record (Hardy 1974) nor in the Academy collection. On my behalf, renowned coleopterist and long time friend, Richard Cunningham, of Chino, CA, acquired a very interesting specimen from the upper Mojave Desert, north of the Little San Bernardino Mountains, in Riverside County (below, left).

The discovery of this population threw the proverbial monkey wrench into my distributional hypothesis for the genus. My prior speculation was that the transverse ranges of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and the peninsular ranges of the San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, and Laguna Mountains, and the Sierra Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir were sufficiently formidable to confine the paleo expansion of the marginata species group to lower southern California south to the Baja peninsula. The Mojave Desert specimen placed the genus outside of my presumed distributional boundaries.(D. caseyi 's distribution into the Colorado Desert was plausible by Pleistocene - probably much earlier - access through the San Gorgonio Pass).

Field surveys for new marginata demes were based on their ecological association with sandy alluvial soils occurring in, or contiguous with, subcoastal scrub, chaparral, desert transition, and desert washes. Interestingly, observations indicate other genera of closely related Melolonthini occupy similar alluvial habitats. Amblonoxia carpenteri (LeConte) was extremely common (apparently displacing Dinacoma ???) at Temecula Creek, Aguanga, Riverside County, the upper Santa Ana River wash, San Bernardino County, and the Santa Clara River floodplain, in Los Angeles County. These localities appeared perfect for supporting Dinacoma. Soil composition. Floral community. However, I am at a loss to explain their absence. Competitive exclusion? Moreover, there is a conspicuous break in distribution between the San Jacino Mountains' populations and the historic localities of the lower San Gabriel Mountains. It would seem that there should be populations, yet undiscovered, along the cismontane canyons of the western San Bernardino Mountains (e.g., Mill Creek, Banning Canyon, Mission Creek) then possibly eastward toward San Gorgonio Pass.

One element that was crucial to my review was the addition of the unknown female of D. caseyi as well as those of all known extant marginata demes. Other than a brief note (Hardy 1977:92) regarding a damaged female of D. caseyi - inadvertently cited as D. marginata (this error has never been formally corrected) - females had remained undescribed. As a result, prior taxonomic diagnoses of Dinacoma species had relied exclusively upon a composite of male morphological characters. Based on recent studies of other conterminous genera of Melolonthini (Phyllophaga Harris, Woodruff 2004; Polyphylla Harris, La Rue 1998, and in preparation), I suspected females would also have characters that are supplemental to interspecific diagnostic criteria.

End of Part 2.

Literature Cited and Internet Resources
Casey, T.L. 1889. Coleopterological Notices. I. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 5:36-198.

Hardy, A.R. 1974. Revisions of Thyce LeConte and related genera (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae). Entomology. State of California Department of Food and Agriculture. Occasional Papers #20. 47 pages.

Hardy, A.R. 1977. Observations on some rare Scarabaeidae mainly from California. The Coleopterists' Bulletin 31(1): 91-92.

La Rue, D.L. 1998. Notes on Polyphylla Harris with a description of a new species. (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae). Insecta Mundi 12(1/2):23-37

Woodruff, R.E. 2004. Revision of the Phyllophaga of Hispaniola (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Insecta Mundi 18(1-4):1-154.

Bautista Canyon image courtesy of Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division. Colorado Desert Wash image courtesy of www.tarleton.edu

© Delbert La Rue 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Africa's Terrible Hairy Fly: Rediscovered

2010-12-10T14:56:00.006-07:00

Scientists have rediscovered a bizarre flightless species of fly, Mormotomyia hirsuta. The 1 cm-long insect had been collected only twice before in 1933 and 1948. It's only known habitat is a bat-filled cleft on an isolated rock formation in Kenya's Ukazi Hills where it breeds in bat feces.

More photos and reading from the BBC News Science article may be found here.

3. Postcards from the right side of the brain:

2010-12-09T09:27:00.026-07:00

Animas Valley Sand Dunes,
Hildago County, New Mexico

Located in New Mexico's remote boot-heel region, Animas Valley Sand Dunes are associated with the Basin and Range physiographic province in southwestern New Mexico at an average elevation of 1580 meters. The northwest-southeast oriented valley where they occur is bordered by tilted fault-block ranges on the west by the Peloncillo Mountains and the Animas, Pyramid and San Luis Mountains to the east.

The valley's interior drainage leads to two ephemeral playa lakes that are Pleistocene remnants of Lake Animas and Lake Cloverdale. During periods of drought, playa sediments and alluvia are subject to eolian deposition at the southeast margin of the valley by southerly prevailing winds. These accumulations consist of semiconsolidated fine sand, silt and clay aggregates that form diminutive rounded dunes (“lunettes”) in an elongated arcuate-shaped mass which essentially follow the basal contours of the southern Animas Mountains.The pale ecru sand color is a result of this amalgam of sedimental aggregates.

Ecologically, this Oak-Juniper woodland-grassland refugia is relictual of a more widespread coniferous forest that occurred in western North America during the late Pleistocene to early Holocene when climate was considerably more moist.

Greater rainfall, cooler temperatures during portions of the year, and calcium-rich soils have contributed to the establishment of extensive grass, agave and yucca regimes - many of which are indicator species of the Chihuahuan Desert.

Preliminary surveys of the entomofauna include several species of coleoptera representing disjunct distributions. The Juniper community is extensive enough to support a population of the striking Chrysina gloriosa LeConte. While this species is usually encountered at mid-elevations in most of the mountain ranges from Arizona to western Texas and northern Mexico, it was surprising to find it associated with a psammophilous ecosystem.

Image courtesy of Webshots
Suggested Reading
Allen, B.D. 2005. Ice Age Lakes in New Mexico. In: New Mexico’s Ice Ages. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin No. 28.

Available online at:
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff/allen/documents/IceAgeLakesNM.pdf

© Delbert La Rue 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Notes on Dinacoma Casey, 1889:Will the real marginata please stand up?

2010-12-08T22:58:00.014-07:00

My taxonomic review of the genus Dinacoma began several years ago when my good friend and colleague, the eminent coleopterist and Buprestid guru, George Walters, La Puente, CA, knowing of my affinity for New World Melolonthines, asked what my opinion was of two male specimens of Dinacoma in his cabinet from the Mexican state of Baja California. Previously, the genus had been considered restricted to southern California: Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego Counties. I soon realized the locality of George's specimens extended the known distribution of the genus about 200 kilometers south as well as representing a new country record - all of which piqued my curiosity and scarabaeoid interests. I had no way of knowing how little of the Dinacoma puzzle lay before me nor the convolution of the scientific quest I was about to undertake:

Why a review and not a revision - and what's the difference? A revision usually involves nomenclatural changes which isn't the case in Dinacoma - as presently understood (more about that later). What is required is a modern redescription of the species D. marginata (Casey) which, I believe, has been taxonomically obscured by prior publications. This would establish a foundation on which to evaluate the various populations - some of which represent discrete undescribed taxa.

The Neartic Melolonthine genus Dinacoma was proposed by Thomas L. Casey (below) to taxonomically situate Thyce marginata Casey, which he later felt was morphologically intermediate, between Thyce LeConte and Polyphylla Harris. Regarding his action, Casey stated (1889:174) "... The characters agreeing with Thyce, reside in the structure of the palpi and tarsal claws, and those that ally it most directly with Polyphylla, are in the greatly developed antennal club, and the short tarsi." In his characterization of the genus, Casey emphasized the differences in the configuration and number of antennal lamella, unequally bifid metatarsal claws, composition of dorsal vestiture, apical two antennomeres anteriorly expanded, profile of the maxillary palpomeres, connate abdomeres, and geographic distribution.

For several decades the known distribution of the genus, that has included two species, D. marginata and D. caseyi Blaisdell (1930), has been adversely impacted and fragmented because of unprecedented habitat destruction and cumulative modification for recreational, residential and urban development. Undoubtedly, all of the former Los Angeles County populations (e.g., Glendale, Pasadena, Eaton Canyon) have probably been extirpated as no recent specimens from those localities are known. Additionally, D. caseyi is precariously in danger of extinction because of extremely limited range and imminent ecological degradation to a few extant populations.

Based on the dorsal morphology, it was apparent that George's specimens were related to, if not conspecific with, D. marginata. However, there were slight differences from the known populations in California but, with only two male specimens from a previously unknown population, any further diagnosis, I felt, would be speculative at best. From my concurrent studies of Polyphylla, I was aware that the addition of the female morphology and genitalia could very well offer further diagnostic characters.

In addition to Casey's original description (1889), I began with a perusal of prior treatments of Dinacoma: Blaisdell (1930), and Hardy (1974). Both authors had slightly different interpretations of D. marginata, I suspect, because of the disparity of specimens they had before them and the age of their publications. Moreover, neither author studied Casey's type. Similarly, Evans and Hogue (2006) stated that the genus "lacks distinct stripes [vittae] on the elytra." Unfortunately, their assertion isn't exactly accurate nor supported by the dorsal vestiture of either species of Dinacoma. As a result of these different interpretations, inevitable confusion arose with the assessment of George's Baja specimens, the discovery of a disjunct population from the upper Mojave Desert, and the apparent morphological divergence of populations from the Pacific slope of the San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County. To proceed further, it became obvious that the taxonomic definition of D. marginata required closer scrutiny as well as clarification.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher
In order to construct a taxonomic foundation upon which to evaluate the various marginata demes, common sense suggested starting at the beginning, as the proverbial single step: a morphological review of the Type of D. marginata, pictured here:

Three labels with the following text accompany the Type:

1) "Dinacoma marginata Csy." handwritten in black ink;
2)"CASEY bequest 1925" block printed in black ink;
3) "TYPE USNM 35885" red label: "TYPE USNM" block printed, "35885" handwritten, all in black ink.

I was surprised to find that no locality label was present.

Casey did not specify a type locality for D. marginata other than the reference to "California, San Diego County" that was associated with the former Thyce marginata. This was common practice as early authors and collectors were less precise about such methodologies and geographic locations were not as well defined as today. In his subsequent treatment, Blaisdell (1930) inexplicably redesignated the type locality to "Ocean Beach, San Diego County, California," forty years after Casey's original description. Unfortunately, he did not explain the reasoning behind his action nor offer why he specifically chose that particular locality. I can only conclude the obvious in that his effort was to specify a less ambiguous type locality. It is unknown whether Casey's type and Blaisdell's Ocean Beach specimens were from the same area/locality. This population is presumed extirpated. The most recent specimen that I was able to locate was collected in the late 1930s:

Specimen courtesy of Ron McPeak, Battle Ground, WA.

While Blaisdell's locality implies a littoral association, all known extant coastal populations of D. marginata are ecologically associated with subcoastal scrub/chaparral occurring in sandy alluvial soil.
End of Part 1.

Literature Cited and Internet Resources
Blaisdell, F. E. 1930. Revision of the genus and species of Dinacoma with description of a new species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist 6(4):171-177.

Casey, T.L. 1889. Coleopterological notices I. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 4:39-198.

Evans, A.V., and J.R. Hogue. 2006. Field Guide to Beetles of California. (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press. 362 pages.

Hardy, A.R. 1974. Revisions of Thyce LeConte and related genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Occasional Papers (Entomology, State of California) 20: 47 pp.

T.L. Casey image courtesy of Louisiana State Arthropod Museum where a complete list of Casey publications, some available in .pdf format, is available.

© Delbert La Rue 2010. All Rights Reserved.

Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758)

2010-12-01T05:05:00.002-07:00

Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Cerambycinae
Tribe: Rosalini. Distribution: Europe - extirpated in parts, listed as endangered or protected in others.

Original illustration approximately 6X8-inches. Winsor & Newton watercolors and Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils in an A3 watercolor Moleskine Folio.

This is part of a watercolor illustration that I posted here.

~ Winslow Homer ~

2010-11-30T07:36:00.008-07:00

Eye Candy: Jewel Beetles and Photonic Crystals

2010-11-29T06:26:00.041-07:00

Some Coleoptera are referred to as "Jewel Beetles" because of the diverse array of iridescent colors they display. One method in which this is accomplished is the use of photonic crystals (Wikipedia: "optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons." uh-huh, yea, okay ...) particularly by some weevils of the genus Pachyrhynchus.

These tropical beetles produce a three-dimensional photonic crystalline structure that are arranged hexagonally - similar to how crystals are arranged in the gemstone Opal. It is suggested that the metallic patterns probably evolved to make the beetles recognizable to other members of it's species in the diminished light under the forest canopy (sorry, doesn't quite sound right to me. Dare I bring up polarized light again?).

Under scanning electron microscopy, the refractive visible layer (surface layer) of the structure appears as a thin plate of chitin perforated by a series of circular holes arranged along a two-dimensional triangular lattice (Welch, et al., 2007).

Males of Hoplia coerulea Drury are known for their spectacular bluish-violet iridescence. This blue coloration is caused by it's squamal (scales) photonic structure that creates a refractive index from utilizing a mix of air and chitin.

The use of photonic crystals in nature for coloration may be found in many other invertebrates, birds, and fish. The subject is more complex than the brief comments I have offered here.

Literature cited and internet sources
Welch, V., et al. 2007. Orange reflection from a three-dimensional photonic crystal in the scales of the weevil Pachyrrhynchus congestus pavonius (Curculionidae). Physical Review E. 75, 041919.

Available at:
http://perso.fundp.ac.be/~jpvigner/press/BioPhotonics/PRE_Pachyrrhynchus.pdf

Pachyrhynchus images courtesy of Estan Cabigas. Hoplia image courtesy of Association Roussillonnaise D' Entomologie.

An unusual color variation of (Cicindela) Cylindera lemniscata lemniscata LeConte

2010-11-27T15:34:00.026-07:00

This small (7-10 mm) ubiquitous tiger beetle is extremely common during the summer monsoonal months in southeast Arizona, the adjacent southwestern states, and western Mexico. While technically it is considered restricted to open grasslands of the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts, it is frequently encountered in large numbers at lights in urban environments such as shopping centers, service stations, private dwellings, etc., indicating great ecological tolerance and vagility. There is even a small population outside my front door at my home in southeast Arizona.

Heretofore, the nominate subspecies, Cylindera lemniscata lemniscata Leconte, was characterized as being bright metallic reddish-orange with metallic yellowish-green to purplish margins and a bold longitudinal macula (stripe) the length of each elytron. It's legs being entirely yellowish-orange. (Photo courtesy of Alex Wild) ...

Peppered among the large population of this species in and about Willcox Playa, Cochise County, AZ, the mecca of cicindelaphiles, is a small distinctive race of deep greenish-blue individuals ...

Morphologically, these greenish-blue phenotypes display no appreciable differences from typical Cyl. lemniscata lemniscata - except of course in coloration. According to Ron Huber, Bloomington, MN, eminent authority of worldwide Cicindelidae and managing editor of the jounal Cicindela, some Mexican populations of this species are composed entirely of green individuals.

The greenish-blue specimen above, along with typical metallic reddish-orange lemniscata, was collected in early July beneath a 30-watt blacklight Bug-Zapper at a local service station located near the small burg of Willcox, AZ. Based on field observations, it does not appear to be rare nor is it abundant.

This greenish-blue color divergence from the usual reddish-orange phenotype raises several questions ...

For example, how does the change in structural coloration effect thermoregulation and heat transfer - if at all? A study of the polymorphic Cicindela hornii demonstrated that metallic green morphs attained the same body temperatures as those that were black under controlled conditions (Schultz & Hadley 1987).

It has been shown that some coleoptera, for example, some scarabs, desert tenebrionids and many non-beetle insects, are sensitive to circularly polarized light (CPL). The predominately green Chrysina, to our eyes, which cannot discern CPL from unpolarized light, appear green. However, when viewed under CPL, green taxa stand out to one another while appearing imperceptible when viewed by potential predators that cannot discriminate CPL (Brady & Cummings 2010). Hence, is the greenish-blue coloration an additional form of crypsis?

Because of the absence of red light in darkness, red animals, as in lemniscata, are invisible. Red being a single pigment is much easier to produce than black pigment while still having the same cryptic effect. However, lemniscata is both nocturnal as well as diurnal (cathemeral).

These are just a few possible suggestions which probably, in turn, raise further questions.

Literature Cited
Brady, P., & Cummings, M. 2010. Differential Response to Circularly Polarized Light by the Jewel Scarab Beetle Chrysina gloriosa. The American Naturalist. 175(5):614-620.

Schultz T.D., & Hadley N.F. 1987. Structural colors of tiger beetles and their role in heat transfer through the integument. Physiological Zoology. 60:737–745.

Follow up to Polyphylla alleni Cazier ...

2010-11-21T11:27:00.020-07:00

Friend and colleague Ted MacRae of Beetles in the Bush apprised me of the AMNH Invertebrate Zoology Type Database which contained a dorsal habitus photo of the Type of Polyphylla alleni Cazier. See my prior post of November 15 below.

Here, both taxa are displayed side by side for comparison: Polyphylla alleni Cazier on the left (photo courtesy of the AMNH), and a probable undescribed species related to P. diffracta on the right. The morphological differences are fairly apparent.

For Polyphylla identification, a combination of diagnostic characters are used with distribution and ecological association sometimes being helpful. In other words, a sand dune obligate will not occur in a montane environment and vice-versa. Sand dune species have evolved a suite of morphological, behavioral, and physiological characters that adapt and restrict them to these environments. To further complicate matters, the dorsal vestiture of psammophilous Polyphylla, that is composed of fine squamae and setae, often in subtle patterns, is subject to abrasion and alteration from sand grains because of the beetle's inherent fossorial behavior. In addition, some populations may exhibit considerable phenotypic variation. Hence, a series of specimens is necessary to adequately assess the possible spectrum of variation.

In retrospect, this unknown taxon may actually be closer morphologically to a further undescribed avittate sand dune species from southern New Mexico than to P. alleni as previously thought.

2. Postcards from the right side of the brain ...

2010-11-17T18:01:00.011-07:00

Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kane County, Utah

As part of my continued exploration of sand dune ecosystems including surveys for psammophilous coleoptera, particularly Polyphylla (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), I have been fortunate to visit these dunes several times. Sand grains from eroding sandstone formations are carried and deposited as a long strip of barchan, parabolic, and star-shaped dunes by prevailing westerly winds. The salmon-colored sand is composed of a mixture of red and white Navajo sandstone grains.

The photos above are from an area of semi-stabilized dune hummocks that support undescribed species of coleoptera. Below, a postcard that captures the vivid sand color. The yellow-blossomed flora in the foreground is Wyethia scabra - Rough Mulesears.

Is this the enigmatic Polyphylla alleni Cazier?

2010-11-15T17:27:00.011-07:00

This small distinctive male specimen has resided in my cabinet for several years. In many morphological respects it approaches the description of Polyphylla alleni Cazier 1939. Type locality: Tuba City, Coconino County, Arizona. Conversely, however, it does not quite "fit" Cazier's description in the presence of elytral setae and discontinuous, evanescent vittae. Young (1988) chose to synonymize this taxon under Polyphylla diffracta Casey, as well as other distinctive species: P. fuscula Fall, P. diffracta arida Van Dyke. Obviously his concept of diffracta (sensu lato) was broadly conservative.

Based on the dorsal vestiture, the specimen is from a psammophilous ecosystem and is closely related to the diffracta subcomplex (i.e., Russell's (2000) Species Clade II: a combination of the P. decemlineata/P. diffracta species groups sensu Young 1988). Collection data is south of State Highway 40, far south of Tuba City. My guess is that it is probably associated ecologically with sandy refugia of the Little Colorado River floodplain of east-central AZ.

A perusal of prior literature and the type of alleni requires examination before a definitive taxonomic assessment of this specimen can be ascertained. A series of both sexes of adults is also necessary. It may represent an undescribed species supporting Russell's molecular data (2000) that several cryptic species exist within the current definition of both P. decemlineata and P. diffracta.

Literature Cited
Cazier, M. A. 1939. New western Polyphylla (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae). Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 34:199-202.

Russell, D. E. 2000. Molecular phylogeny of New World Polyphylla (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Melolonthini). Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. vi+112 pp. [unpublished dissertation]

Young, R. M. 1988. A monograph of the genus Polyphylla Harris in America, north of Mexico. Bulletin of the University of Nebraska State Museum 11(2): vi+115 pp.

An impromptu soirée at the Skillman's

2010-08-22T09:57:00.009-07:00

As a result of serendipitous circumstances, I ran into my good friend and long time scarab colleague Bob Duff - for whom the collecting technique "duffing" was named - while shopping at the local Safeway. Coincidentally, Bob had contacted Fred Skillman earlier that day in hopes of locating me - I'm usually MIA. As opportunity dictated, Bob and I ended up at the Skillman's Longhorn Ranch ("longhorn" as in longhorn beetle, not steer) at the base of the Dragoon Mountains for the usual sumptous meal, libations, and mostly entomological ramblings.

I extend my warmest thanks to Fred and Carol for their fine hospitality on such short notice.

Above, left to right, Bob, Fred, myself (looking bushed after a day's work and several cold Coronas). Photo by Carol Skillman.

Chasing Beetles, Finding Darwin

2010-07-19T05:25:00.003-07:00

"... From so simple a beginning, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."

~ Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859

It's been over 150 years since Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species. Yet, his ideas remain as central to scientific exploration as ever.

Duration: 26:46

Granite Gap, Peloncillo Mountains, New Mexico ...

2010-07-17T16:01:00.018-07:00

The view looking south this morning while collecting Acmaeodera at 1330m elevation. The valley and mountains below are the eastside of the cloud-covered Chiricahuas. Monsoon season here.

Click on the image for a larger view (collage made with Picasa3 software).

Two species of Acmaeodera - yuccavora Knull, and a species undetermined at present - were collected on the flowers of Allionia incarnata L., Trailing Four O'clock, that grew along the rocky roadside.

Despite efforts beating Mimosa and Acacia, two additional species, Ac. davidsoni Barr, this being it's type locality, and Ac. parkeri Cazier, were not encountered. Bummer dude.

2010-07-17T03:45:00.004-07:00

Pencil in a Moleskine, PS text, 8X8-inches

... For Frank ....

2010-06-28T14:00:00.006-07:00

The late Frank Hovore, friend and colleague, collecting Titanus giganteus in Ecuador and for whom I posthumously named a new species of Rain Beetle ~Pleocoma hovorei La Rue, 2007.

~ Watercolor Beetles ~

2010-06-28T07:01:00.006-07:00

Here is an update of my progress on the beetle composition that I have posted elements of. I feel, for the most part, it is nearing completion but still lacks a few more beetles and other details. You may notice that the red longhorn beetle (Rosalia formosa) lacks the right antenna. I have temporarily omitted it until the remaining beetles are in place.

As a reminder, this is done in an A3 (16.5 X 12-inch, 297 X 420mm) watercolor Moleskine Folio using W&N Cotman WCs and Faber-Castell Polychromos CPs.

2010-06-12T20:00:00.005-07:00

Dynastes tityus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Eastern Hercules Beetle
Distribution: southeastern United States

W&N Cotman watercolors, FC Polychromos CPs

This is part of a larger beetle composition in progress. Additional beetles and views are posted in my Flickr art link.

In the post today ....

2010-06-10T00:35:00.010-07:00

... my order of Faber-Castell Polychromos 60-tin CP set from Dick Blick ...

Vivien, an artist in the Wet Canvas art forum, suggested I might try these Polychromos to embellish my wc beetles to give them depth and highlights. I chose the 60 pencil set as a standard base of colors and plan to add additional colors from open stock. FC also offers a neat 120 set (= $$$).

Dick Blick was close to the cheapest I found for this set on the internet - just a few dollars difference - but DB's reputation for quality and impeccable and prompt service made my decision easy.

I almost purchased through TCP Global via Amazon but could never get anyone on the phone in their sales department to answer questions I had concerning shipping options. I guess the economy hasn't effected them.

I also considered ASW, who had the cheapest price overall but their tough-to-navigate website, three hour difference in business hours being on the east coast, and the same problem reaching someone in sales, ... 'nuff said.

Another note: 2nd day expedited shipping via Fed Ex was cheaper from Dick Blick in Illinois, than it would have been from TCP in California, the next state over, or ASW on the east coast.

Next, I'll invest in a quality electric pencil sharpener ASAP ...

2010-06-03T14:57:00.001-07:00

UPDATE: In my mail box today, I found the envelope from Ken Bromley Art Supplies with the half pan of Cerulean Blue and a note enclosed ...

Thank you.

W&N Cotman 45-Half Pan Watercolor Studio Set ...

2010-05-19T17:14:00.014-07:00

arrived today from Ken Bromley Art Supplies in the UK. I had considered upgrading a few of the half pans in my W&N Compact Set but, actually, that would have been more expensive than buying this set of Cotman 45 half-pans including shipping from the UK. Go figure. So, the question was, do I have a collection of small palettes or just one large one? Watercolor purists, gurus, and aficionados will say all these pans are not necessary and counter intuitive as all and any color can be mixed from your basic primaries. Since I am transitioning from acrylics to watercolors, I felt this assortment of convenience colors would be more advantageous for me. The 45 half pan set also included some colors I wanted but were not in the Compact Set: Payne's Grey, Cobalt, Hookers Green, Van Dyke Brown, to name a few. I'll use these and upgrade to the Artists' pans as needed.

NOTE: The set is missing Cerulean Blue which is part of the Cotman Series of 40 colors. Instead, there are two half pans each of Ultramarine and Prussian. I contacted Ken Bromley today (05.24.10) via their live online help link and they are sending me the missing half pan of Cerulean - gratis, of course.

1. Postcards from the right side of the brain ...

2010-05-16T10:49:00.002-07:00

Cochise Stronghold, Dragoon Mountains, AZ, was once the refuge of the great Apache Chief, Cochise, and his people ...

** I recommend clicking on an image for a larger view**

Happy 2nd Birthday. I love you.

2010-05-11T08:47:00.006-07:00

~ Inspire Me Thursday ~

2009-04-23T21:44:00.007-07:00

"Singing Mother"
... acrylics, air-dry clay over gourd, natural and other elements,
13.5-inches in height

This is my entry at Inspire Me Thursday. This week's topic: PUSH.

I had previously submitted this as my entry at Illustration Friday for TALISMAN and INTRICATE.

~ Inspire Me Thursday ~

2009-04-16T08:12:00.008-07:00

"Sunflowers"

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer,
it sings because it has a song."
~~ Chinese proverb

This is my entry at Inspire Me Thursday for April 16.
This week's theme: GREEN

More photos of this entry can be seen here.

~ Illustration Friday ~

2009-04-11T10:05:00.010-07:00

"Birds & Bees"
... acrylics on gourd, 8.5-inches in height

This is my entry at Illustration Friday for April 10.
This week's topic: FLEETING

~ Cactus Monday ~

2009-03-30T12:43:00.005-07:00

This is my post this morning to the Cactus Monday Flickr group.

~ Illustration Friday ~

2009-03-27T13:27:00.009-07:00

Blue Bird Jar
Acrylics on gourd, 6-inches in height

This is my entry at Illustration Friday for March 27.
This week's topic: POISE

I feel the stylized blue birds captured this verb perfectly.

~ Illustration Friday ~

2009-03-17T13:34:00.010-07:00

"Sunflowers"
... acrylics on gourd with lid, 12-inches in height
This is my entry at Illustration Friday for March 20.
This week's topic: SUBTRACT

My Scientific Publications ...

2009-02-24T19:23:00.023-07:00

1986. A new species of Cotalpa from Western Arizona (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Rutelinae).
The Coleopterists' Bulletin 40(2):145-147.

1990. New California distribution records for two species of Cicindela Linnaeus (Coleoptera:Cicindelidae). Cicindela 22(4):49-52.

1992. Food plant associations for Paracotalpa and Phobetus LeConte from southern California (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Rutelinae & Melolonthinae).
The Coleopterists’ Bulletin 46(1):28.

1994. Tiger beetles of the Algodones Sand Dunes, Imperial County, California (Coleoptera:Cicindelidae) Cicindela 26(1):1-8.

1994. Additional distribution records for Cicindela (Cicindelidia) nigrocoerulea nigrocoerulea in California (Coleoptera:Cicindelidae)
Cicindela 26(2):25-26.

1998. Notes on Polyphylla Harris with a description of a new species (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae).
Insecta Mundi 12(1/2):23-37. .pdf available

2007. A new species of Pleocoma LeConte from California
(Coleoptera:Scarabaeoidea:Pleocomidae).
The Coleopterists' Bulletin 61(2):149-158. .pdf available

(2011). In review. Notes on Polyphylla Harris, 1841.
2. Two new species from California with additional female descriptions and distributional amendments. (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae:Melolonthini).

(201-). In preparation. A review of the Neartic genus Dinacoma Casey, 1889. Part 1. Taxonomic remarks upon and redescription of Dinacoma marginata (Casey)(Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae:Melolonthini).

(201-). In preparation. Notes on the Ecology, Distribution and Host Plant associations for Pleocoma LeConte from California. (Coleoptera:Scarabaeoidea:Pleocomidae)

(201-). In preparation. Notes on Polyphylla Harris, 1841.
3. Three new psammophilous species from the southwestern United States and Baja California, Mexico(Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae:Melolonthini).

(201-). In preparation. Notes on Polyphylla Harris, 1841.
4. Biology, ecology and description of the ova, larva and pupa of Polyphylla erratica Hardy and Andrews, 1978 (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Melolonthinae:Melolonthini).