While attracting Lepidoptera with a light trap, this specimen of Coleoptera, Lycidae, was also attracted and I took a (unfortunately very bad) photograph. I determined it as the very rare Benibotarus taygetanus. Can anybody confirm this from the picture?
Specifications: Germany, Bavaria, near Passau, "oak-hornbeam-wood", 300m, 2014-07-05, length about 8 mm
Thank you very much for your efforts!
Rudolf Ritt
Dear Ritt,
I obviously agree on the family identification. As regards genus and species, the opinion of a specialist in this family will be very useful. A comparison of your photo and images available on the internet seems to indicate, in my opinion, a good correspondence with the genus Benibotarus. Best regards,
Rinaldo Nicoli
looks correct to me, only other option would be Dictyopterus, but your specimen doesn't look like these.
Thank you both for your answers!
I think in Dictyopterus there are three bands from the shoulder going parallel to thr suture and meet in the edge of the elytra. In Benibotarus there is one band from the edge of the shoulder nearly diagonal to the edge of the elytra. The other bands do not reach the edge. Furthermore there are read/yellowish edges at the antennae.
Is there only one species in this genus in Central Europe? Is it called in Freude/Harde/Lohse Dictyoptera fiedleri Rtt.?
Best regards,
Rudolf Ritt
Dear Rudolf, this is indeed B. taygetanus with no doubt.
The other species B. alternatus is known from south west France (Pyrénées), Spain and Portugal, which is far from Bavaria.
Dear Vincent,
thank you very much for confirming the determination!
Rudolf Ritt
No, I'm sorry to insist M. Vives but this is not D. aurora, this is B. taygenatus. There is no doubt if you look at elytral ribs.
No question about. Your specimen is B. taygetanus. The species B.alternatus exist in Portugal and I collected several specimens there. They can not be confused.
No doubt, it is a male specimen. Adults are active during twilight and early night, oppositely to the most of european lycids, that is why they are considered so rare. Google (benibotarus taygetanus beetle) to see more views :-)
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