By William Godwin
Texas A&M Department of Entomology
Beetles of the family Pyrochroidae (fire beetles) were one of the more immediately remarkable catches. These specimens are likely to be the first of their family collected in Texas. They are more typical of the Ozarks region. The larvae are typically predators living under bark. Perhaps their presence and abundance is tied to old growth forest. They were collected at light.
Pyrochroidae: (left) Adults of Neopyrochroa spp. Dendroides spp. (right) unidentified pyrochroid larva under bark.
Beetle collectors were excited to find Lucanus placidus (Say) at their lights on the Sparta Sand outcrop.
This beetle is indicative of the deep sand.
Beetles attracted to dung baited pitfalls
 Deltochilum gibbosum (Fabricius) |
|
 Canthon imitator Brown |
 Ateuchus histeroides (Weber) |
 Geotrupes splendens (Fabricius) |
 Phanaeus difformis LeConte |
 Omorgus spp. |
 Onthophagus medorensis Brown |