“Pronotum: Dull creamy yellow to orange with dark markings and large punctures reddish to brown; dark markings tending to form four longitudinal vittae, these indistinct and poorly differentiated or indicated only at base; usually with a small, pigmented, coarsely punctate spot at each side. Punctation dual, smaller punctures often sparse, larger punctures varying widely in size, from minute to large and coarse, usually densest and coarsest anteriorly and at sides, most dense at lateral spot. Elytra: Dull creamy yellow to orange, striae and dark markings reddish to dark brown and distinct to (usually) vague, dark markings consisting of round to elongate spots. Markings of each elytron as follows: one near apex of first interval (vague to absent); one at basal fourth of third interval (distinct to vague); one at apex of fifth interval (distinct to vague); one at apex of seventh interval (distinct and expanded to vague, reduced); one on humerus (nearly always distinct); one at middle of eighth interval (distinct to very feebly indicated). With eight rows of punctures and a series behind humerus, fifth row usually confused, sixth row always confused, sometimes joining fifth row; punctures a little larger, denser than usual, not or slightly finer apically; inner and outer rows distinct apically, usually clearly meeting. Prosternum: Anterior margin in male produced ventrally into a distinct, broad lobe, middle of prosternum with a stout, sharp, ventrally directed spine, anterior margin in female as that in male, but middle of prosternum lacking a spine. Length: 3.8 to 4.3 mm” (White, 1968: 68-9).
“A single specimen from Chihuahua, Mexico, determined by Monros as. C. taeniata Suffrian is very similar to merus and raises the possibility that the two may be synonymous” (White, 1968).
USA: TX, AZ.