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

Diagnostic Features
  • Description: Antennae 10-segmented with a distinct, 1-segmented club. Antennal setation sparse. Subantennal grooves absent. Eyes large, well-developed, finely faceted. Pronotal disc convex, simple. Procoxal cavities open. Metacoxae narrowly separated, separation less than metacoxal length. Elytra with serially arranged, thick, upright setae. Tarsal formula 4-4-4.
  • Similar genera: The genus Synchita is similar in general appearance to the other genera with 10-segmented antennae and a 1-segmented club that lack a subantennal groove, including Microsicus, Paha, and Endeitoma. Microsicus differs in having strongly curved, flattened, multi-colored elytral setae. The genus Paha differs in lacking obvious dorsal pubescence, lateral pronotal margins widest anteriorly and distinctly explanate, and having paired carinae on the pronotal disc. Endeitoma differs in having a long third antennal segment (at least twice as long as segment 4), lateral pronotal margins distinctly denticulate, and a dorsal pubescence consisting of thin, fine, hair-like setae. In Synchita, the pronotal disc is simple, the lateral margins are not distinctly denticulate, antennal segment 3 is not distinctly elongate, and the dorsal pubescence consists of short, bristle-like, unicolored setae.
Known Distribution
  • Northeast (DC, NH, NH, NJ, ME, MD, PA, WV), North Central (IL, IN, MO, OH), Southeast (FL, NC, SC), South Central (AR, OK, TX) USA, and Ontario, Canada.
Biology
  • Synchita fuliginosa has been collected at MV/UV lights, but can commonly be found under the bark of various dead trees, including oak, hickory, elm, maple, and pecan.

  • Abundance: Moderately common.
North American Species (1)

Synchita fuliginosa Melsheimer, 1846

Selected References  

Synchita fuliginosa
© 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.