Megalodacne fasciata
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Megalodacne fasciata is a large North American pleasing fungus beetle species (family Erotylidae). In English, it is commonly called red-banded pleasing fungus beetle or just red-banded fungus beetle, but these names are fairly generic and also describe many other Erotylidae.
This beetle was formerly placed in subfamily Dacninae, or – in taxonomic arrangements that prefer a more comprehensive subfamily Erotylinae – in tribe Dacnini of the Erotylinae; today it is generally included in a split-off subfamily Megalodacninae or tribe Megalodacnini.
With a length of 10-15.5 mm and 5-6 mm wide, adults of this species are the second-largest pleasing fungus beetles in most, and the very largest in part of its range. They are mostly black, with a jagged orange band across the elytra near the wingtip, and an irregular blotch in the same color near each "shoulder"; the midline of the elytra is black, dividing the wingtip band.
Like most of its close relatives, M.fasciata has large compound eyes whose ommatidia are also rather large (indicating nocturnal or crepuscular habits), and lacks a depression in the rather short "clubbed" tips of the antennae. The maxillary palps have a... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Dallas | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Boston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Chicago | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle sighting in Dallas on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 710th most-seen of the 1412 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
September
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle in Dallas on a given day, against under 5% in October to August, the lowest months.
Among the best
Of the 8 cities where we can rate Red-Banded Fungus Beetle sightings, Dallas ranks 3rd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Philadelphia (United States, under 5%) and Washington (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-Banded Fungus Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Dallas (18 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
