identifying black beetle with two orange stripes across back - Ask Extension
I found a group of beetles under a partially rotted Red Bud tree stump. They are 1/2" long, shinny black body with two vivid orange strips across the ...
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identifying black beetle with two orange stripes across back #626372
Asked April 22, 2020, 12:32 AM EDT
I found a group of beetles under a partially rotted Red Bud tree stump. They are 1/2" long, shinny black body with two vivid orange strips across the hard "wings". There was a grouping of mud cells with developing beetles. See photos.
Would you please help me to identify. Not concerned, just curious due to the mud cells. I have not seen before and could not find searching on Internet.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
This appears to be a type of "Pleasing Fungus" beetle, particularly Megalodacne fasciata: https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=11692. Adults are present spring and summer, though primarily nocturnal, and both adults and larvae feed on fungi found on rotting wood. However, we cannot yet find references to larvae pupating in mud cells, so these may be from another insect or arthropod. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/imegalodacnei-pleasing-fungus-beetles
Miri
Miri
