Red-Banded Fungus Beetle

Red-Banded Fungus Beetle

Megalodacne fasciata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Washington

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

40 Verified sightings at Washington
September Best month

About the Red-Banded Fungus Beetle

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 →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Philadelphia 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 Dallas 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Boston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
6 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Houston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 Austin 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle in Washington?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 40 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 545th most-seen of the 1807 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.

When is the best time to see a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle in Washington?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Is Washington the best place to see a Red-Banded Fungus Beetle?

Among the best

Of the 8 cities where we can rate Red-Banded Fungus Beetle sightings, Washington ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Philadelphia (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Red-Banded Fungus Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Red-Banded Fungus Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Washington (40 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.

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