Beetles of North Carolina
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Members of Trechus:
5 NC Records

Trechus luculentus wayahensis Barr, 1979 - 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 is the head of Dirty John Creek on the southwest slope of Winespring Bald (Barr, 1979)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Barr (1979)                                                              
Comments: "Reddish piceous, shining" (Barr,1989). This subspecies is distinguished primarily by morphological characters. 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]: 3.9-4.4 mm, mean 4.1 (Barr, 1979)
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, 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: All sites where this species has been recorded are over 5,000': Wayah Bald is about 5330'; Winespring Bald is 5461'; Copper Ridge Bald is 5260. All support forests composed of high elevation 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: [G2G33T2] [S1S2]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is endemic to the Nantahala Mountains. Like most of the members of this genus, T. luculenus wayahensis 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.