Ironclad ID: Tool for Diagnosing Ironclad and Cylindrical Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Zopheridae) of North America north of Mexico
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Genus: Monoedus

Diagnostic Features
  • Description: Antennae 10-segmented with a distinct, 1-segmented club. Antennal setation sparse. Subantennal grooves absent. Eyes small, round to reniform, finely faceted. Pronotal disc simple, pronotum longer than wide, widest anteriorly, lateral margins weakly serrate. Procoxal cavities narrowly open. Metacoxae narrowly separated, separation less than metacoxal length. Elytral with 9 rows of evenly spaced, round punctures. Tarsal formula 4-4-4 with first tarsomere dilated and encompassing small 2nd and 3rd segments. Dorsal surface glabrous. Elytra pale with a number of small, dark spots. Dorsum with small, curved, pale setae. Body usually encrusted with a pale, waxy exudate.
  • Similar genera: The genus Monoedus is extremely distinctive and is not readily confused with other zopherid genera.
Known Distribution
  • Southeastern (Southern FL, Florida Keys) United States.
Biology
  • Monoedus guttatus can be found on milkweed (Cynanchum scoparium) (Ivie, 2002).

  • Abundance: Locally not rare.
North American Species (1)

Monoedus guttatus Horn, 1882

Discussion
  • This genus is also found in Central and South America and the West Indies. It has likely been introduced into the United States.
Potential Problems with Identification
  • Members of this genus are frequently encrusted with a pale, waxy exudate which may conceal many of the important features used for identification.
Selected References  

Monoedus guttatus
© N.P. Lord

© 2011-2015 Lord, N.P., Nearns, E.H., and K.B. Miller
The University of New Mexico and Center for Plant Health Science and Technology, USDA, APHIS, PPQ.