Zopherus granicollis

Size: 16-22 mm         

Seasonality: Active between March and November

Distribution; California, Nevada, Arizona and Mexico

Information:

Zopherus granicollis is very common in the correct areas. They reside in mixed Calocedrus decurrens, Pinus ponderosa, Abies, and Quercus kelloggii forests. They are most highly associated with the Calocedrus trees. During the day they can be found, often in groups of two or more, under logs or in cracks of tree bark. They are also sometimes spotted crossing trails and roads as it becomes dark. At night they emerge to feed on things such as Calocedrus bark. They cluster around recently cut Calocedrus stumps to reproduce and lay eggs in the cracks and crevasses of the wood. During mating, it is possible that the male uses the female's antennal cavities as handholds. Females are often larger and more robust than males.

Footage of their behavior can be seen here

Description: (ssp. ventriosus) Body; Ovate robust, entirely matte black, appendages black with orange setae on the underside of the coxa, femora, tibiae and tarsi. Tarsal formula: 5-5-4. Antennae black; clavate; 11-segmented with a 1-segment club. Pronotum entirely matte black; semi-cordate, and with many small punctures on the dorsal surface. Elytra: matte black, apical angles pointed, but round, heavy, rough muricated elytral surface. Abdomen wider than pronotum. Humeral angles obtuse, elytral shoulder width same as that of pronotal base. Head: appears pentagonal or hexagonal, with many deep punctures, black. These punctures are more sparse in Z. uteanus. Ventral surface of entire body covered in deep punctures. These punctures are most dense and deep on the mesoventrite and most shallow on the fifth abdominal ventrite, forming a gradient between the two areas. 

(ssp. granicollis) Pronotum with many prominent tubercles more or less evenly distributed. Elytra with tubercles with greater width than that of the pronotum and also evenly distributed. 

Zopherus granicollis ssp. ventriosus

Collection Notes:

Has been collected from

• under Calocedrus decurrens logs

• Pinus monophylla