Beetles of North Carolina
Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:
« »
View Carabidae Members:
Members of Trechus:
2 NC Records

Trechus hydropicus avus Barr, 1962 - No Common Name

Taxonomy
Family: Carabidae Subfamily: Trechinae                                                             
Comments: One of 82 species in this genus that have been recorded in North America north of Mexico, 42 of which occur in North Carolina (Bosquet, 2012). Trechus hyrdopicus belongs to subgenus Trechus and is included in the Hydropicus Species Group by Barr (1979, 1985). Other members of this group that occur in North Carolina are Trechus caliginis, schwarzi, mitchellensis, carolinae, and roanicus; Trechus cumberlandus is the only other member of this group and is restricted to the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Species Status: One of four subspecies of T. hydropicus, only two of which have been recorded in North Carolina. The type locality of this subspecies is Grandfather Mountain (Barr, 1962). The subspecies differ solely in features of the aedeagus (Barr, 1962, 1979).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Barr (1962, 1979)                                                              
Comments: Body and elytra dark, shining piceous; legs paler piceous (Barr, 1962). Members of this genus show too little variation in pattern for standard photographs to be used to identify particular species.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 2.7-4.4 mm (Barr, 1962)
Structural Features: As a member of subgenus Trechus, the first and second segments of front tarsus are both enlarged in males. This species is distinguished from other members of its species group morphometrically and by features of the aedeagus (Barr, 1962, 1979).
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Flight Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥
 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) <
 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Associated with high elevation forests but not exclusively with Spruce-fir Forests, which do not occur on Three Top Mountain
See also Habitat Account for General High Elevation Forests
Diet: Predatory on small insects and other invertebrates
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology: Not enough information exists for this species to determine its phenology
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [SR]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNRTNR] [SHS1]
State Protection:
Comments: With only two documented, well-separated populations, this subspecies appears to be vulnerable to complete extinction, with a warming and drying climate probably representing the main threat