Eleodes obscurus ( Say, 1823 )

Triplehorn, Charles A., Thomas, Donald B. & Rile, Edward G., 2009, The Genus Eleodes Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) In Texas, The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (4), pp. 413-437 : 430-431

Eleodes obscurus ( Say, 1823)

(Fig. 23, Map 9)

Diagnosis. This is a large, stout, oblong-oval species with rounded elytral margins. The anterior angles of the pronotum are obtuse. The profemora are dentate in both sexes. Two subspecies occur in Texas: In E. o. obscurus , the elytra are feebly sulcate, intervals slightly convex, sparsely and muricately punctate, more strongly so laterally and apically. In E. o. glabriusculus Blaisdell, the punctures of the elytral striae are coarse and somewhat irregular, the intervals with a single series of similar punctures, laterally and apically the punctures become more or less asperate. Length: 25–35 mm .

Distribution. There is only one Texas record for the nominate subspecies (Potter County), which is the easternmost record for the species. Eleodes o. glabriusculus occurs in west Texas. The species occurs in all states of the Great Plains and in

Figs. 35–42. 35) Eleodes sponsus =, 36) E. longicollis =, 37) E. longicollis R, 38) E. easterlai R, 39) E. labialis =, 40) E. nigrinus =, 41) E. dissimilis R, 42) E. delicatus =.

adjacent states of Mexico as far south as Durango. Kenagy and Stevenson (1982) studied the thermal ecology of this species.