Eleodes caudiferus LeConte, 1858

Triplehorn, Charles A., Thomas, Donald B. & Rile, Edward G., 2009, The Genus Eleodes Eschscholtz (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) In Texas, The Coleopterists Bulletin 63 (4), pp. 413-437 : 428-429

Eleodes caudiferus LeConte, 1858

(Figs. 30–31, Map 14)

Diagnosis. In this species, the pronotum is slightly convex, punctate, feebly concave laterally and transversely rugose. The elytra are slightly flattened, punctate-striate, the intervals sparsely punctate and muricate laterally and apically. The Texas population was assigned by Blaisdell (1909) to the forma glabra in which the elytra are smoother and less muricate. Both males and females are caudate (longer in the male) and the profemora are mutic in both sexes. Length: 22–30 mm.

Figs. 29–34. 29) Eleodes gracilis =, 30) E. caudiferus =, 31) E. caudiferus R, 32) E. tenuipes =, 33) E. tenuipes R, 34) E. spinipes ventricosus =.

Distribution. Texas records are from Brewster, El Paso and Winkler counties. It is common in the ‘‘four corners area’’ of the U.S.A. and the senior author has seen one specimen from Chihuahua, Mexico. Tschinkel (1975) discusses the head-standing posture and defensive secretions in Eleodes with this species as the exemplar.