Megapenthes stigmosus (LeConte)

The specimen of Megapenthes stigmosus (LeConte) pictured below was collected on August 27, 2004 at Mount Uniake, Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada by D. MacDonald in a spruce beetle trap. It is approximately 8.0 mm in length. This is the first record of this species (and genus) from Nova Scotia although it is previously recorded from New Brunswick (as is M. nigriventris Leconte).

Megapenthes is a large Nearctic genus with 29 species known from North America. There is one Palearctic species, M. lugens (Redtenbacher).

In terms of bionomics, writing of M. stigmosus Brooks (1960) says: "Predominantly poplar forests and parklands ... usually collected on the dense undergrowth."

On an etymological and mythological note, the name Megapenthes has an auspicious origin. In Greek mythology, Megapenthes was a son of Proetus. He exchanged kingdoms (Argos for Tiryns) with his cousin, Perseus. He was the father of Argeus and possibly of Anaxagoras.

Select any of the thumbnails below to see a larger image.

dorsal habitus	ventral habitus	lateral habitus	head

References

Becker, E.C. 1971. Five new species of Megapenthes from the southwestern United States, with a key to the Nearctic species (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Canadian Entomologist, 103: 145-167.

Brooks, A.R. 1960. Adult Elateridae of Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba (Coleoptera). Canadian Entomologist Supplement 20. 63 pp.

Johnson, P.J. 2002. Elateridae Leach 1815. pp. 160-173. In: Arnett, R.H., Jr., Thomas, M.C., Skelley, P.E., and Frank, J.H. (eds.) American Beetles, Volume 2: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea. CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA.

Many thanks to Paul Johnson for assistance with the determination!

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