Beetles of North Carolina
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Scientific Name: Common Name:
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View Carabidae Members:
Members of Trechus:
1 NC Records

Trechus luculentus cheoahbaldensis Donabauer, 2005 - 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 luculentus belongs to subgenus Microtrechus and is included in the Nebulosus Species Group by Bosquet (2012). In addition to luculentus, 21 other species are included in this group, 18 of which occur in North Carolina and the rest in Tennessee.
Species Status: The type locality of this subspecies is Cheoah Bald on the border between Swain and Graham Counties (Donabauer, 2005b)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Donabauer (2005b)                                                              
Comments: This subspecies is smaller than the others but is otherwise distinguished only in features of the aedeagus in males (Donabauer, 2005b). 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]: 3.5-4.0 mm (Donabauer, 2005b)
Structural Features: As a member of subgenus Microtrechus, only the first segment of front tarsus is enlarged in males. This species is distinguished from other members of its species group morphometrically and by features of the aedeagus (Barr, 1962, 1979; Donabauer, 2005b).
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 habitat at the type locality is not described but Cheoah Bald is 5,062' in elevation and has an open, shrub bald on the south-facing slope. Most of the ridge is forested, however, and northern hardwoods are probably the source of the specimens collected at this site.
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: [G23T1] [S1]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is endemic to the Cheoah Mountains. Like most of the members of this genus, T. luculenus cheoahbaldensis is a high elevation inhabitant of cold, wet microclimates. It is very likely to be highly vulnerable to the warming and drying impacts of climate change.