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

Trechus schwarzi schwarzi Jeannel, 1931 - 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 schwarzi 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 hydropicus, caliginis, 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: Jeannel (1931) gave the type locality for the species as Roan High Knob. However, Barr (1962) believed that was a mistake and that Retreat, in the Great Balsams, was probably the actual source of the type specimen. Barr (1979) restricts the nominate subspecies to the form that exists in the Great Balsams, separating it from subspecies scopulosus, which is restricted to the Craggy Mountains, and saludae, which is found even more distantly in Polk County
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Barr (1962, 1979)                                                              
Comments: Generally, 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]: 3.8-4.4 mm (Barr, 1979)
Structural Features: Larger than subspecies saludae and scopulosus
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: The type locality as identified by Barr, Retreat, is situated in a valley below 4,000' in elevation although several of the ridges in this vicinity exceed 4,000' and Cold Mountain is higher than 6,000'. Some small patches of Spruce-fir Forest appear to exist in this area and Buck Spring, where this species has been definitely recorded, does contain a stand of Spruce-fir. Habitat for this species probably consists of general high elevation forests.
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: [GNR] [SHS2]
State Protection:
Comments: This subspecies is restricted to a single mountain range (Great Balsams) in North Carolina. As with our other narrowly endemic species of Trechus, it is likely to be highly vulnerable to the warming and drying impacts of climate change.