Beetle Identification

[Jer]

I was going through my insect collection and decided to take some pictures of species I could not identify. I figured I would post them here to see if anyone might have an identification. I will start with this one for now. Thanks for looking.

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[thedude]

I was going through my insect collection and decided to take some pictures of species I could not identify. I figured I would post them here to see if anyone might have an identification. I will start with this one for now. Thanks for looking.

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[URL=http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=beetle3wt1.jpg][/URL]

the best i can say is some kind of fungus beetle or carrion beetle.. maybe even a darkling beetle

 

[Jer]

I was thinking fungus beetle, but was looking for a genus.

 

[Insecto]

Definetly Silphidae family, for genus ID, photo is not enough..

 

[Jer]

Hmm right you are. They definately have clubbed antennae. However they do not look like any silphids I have ever seen. The large pronotum around the head is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I believe I caught these guys in southern Alberta underneath some wood that was likely in place for a hundred years. There was also a fat rattlesnake underneath the wood.

 

[Insecto]

If you cought them in winter or early spring means that they was hybernating in wood. But if it was summer than its definetly not Silphid. Hey maybe its a new specie/family

 

[lucanidae]

Your pictures aren't clear enough for me to tell, but perhaps it is an Agyritdae? They look a lot like Silphidae but have a pronotum that matches your description. Silphidae: Oiceoptoma also matches the overal roundness of your specimens.

 

[Jer]

I caught them in the summer. There was 2 under there, one large one and one smaller one. Pictured is the smaller one, the larger one is quite dirty. Leave it to Google to not give me any results for "Agyritdae". I don't think it is Oiceoptoma. Note how in my pictures the "crest" of the pronotum is very pronounced. I haven't seen anything like this before.

 

[Jer]

Ok I took some new pictures. Note the edge going along the complete outside of the beetle. It is very distinct. Note also two dimples on the pronotum.

 

[lucanidae]

Tenebrionidae: Embaphion. The new pics are great. I was far off on my first guess....oh well .

 

[Jer]

Sweet thanks for the identification lucanidae. Im thinking Embaphion muricatum. Those pics are the absolute best quality that my webcam can take. Stay tuned for other species to be identified!