Yet Another Rare Beetle Found in Virginia

While sorting through some spring Malaise trap samples from the Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Dr. Art Evans came across a single specimen of an unfamiliar beetle about five millimeters in length. After a bit of research, Evans determined the beetle to be Omethes marginatus LeConte in the family Omethidae.

The specimen represents a new species AND family record for Virginia. Omethes marginatus was previously known from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania; additional new state records include Arkansas and Indiana.

Omethids of any stripe are rare in collections and little is known about their natural history.