Beetles of North Carolina
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Members of Trechus:
1 NC Records

Trechus luculentus joannabaldensis 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 Joanna Bald in the Snowbird Mountains (Donabauer, 2005b)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: (Donabauer, 2005b)                                                              
Comments: Immediately distinguished from the subspecies luculentus luculentus and wayahensis by its significantly smaller body size and paler color. Members of this genus generally show too little variation in pattern for standard photographs to be used to identify particular species.
Total Length [body plus wings; excludes ovipositor]: 3.4-3.9 mm (Barr, 1962, 1979; Donabauer, 2005b)
Structural Features: Distinguished from other species in this genus morphometrically and by features of the adeagus (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: Donabauer (2005b) found specimens by sifting wet leaf litter around a spring on the southern slope of Joanna Bald directly beside the forest street and in a muddy seep on the northern slope. Joanna Bald is about 4,700' (Google Earth). The forests on the summit and slopes all appear to be hardwoods.
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: [G2G33T1] [S1]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is endemic to Joanna Bald. Like most of the members of this genus, T. luculenus joannabaldensis 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.