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 pseudonovaculosus 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 pseudonovaculosus belongs to subgenus Microtrechus and is included in the Nebulosus Species Group by Bosquet (2012). In addition to pseudonovaculosus, 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 Clingman's Dome on the North Carolina-Tennessee state line; both Swain County and Sevier County are included in the type locality (Donabauer, 2005b)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Donabauer (2005b)                                                              
Comments: "Body entirely reddish piceous, slightly paler than in T. novaculosus, disk of pronotum sometimes darker, elytra shiny with slight bluish lustre, paler along suture. Legs and antenna entirely pale reddish, contrasting with body." (Donabauer, 2005b). 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]: 4.1-4.5 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 (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: Clingman's Dome is 6,644? in elevation and the type specimens were found in the Spruce-fir Forest around the summit in wet places at the base of steep cliffs covered by moss (Donabauer, 2005b)
See also Habitat Account for Spruce-Fir 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] SH
State Protection:
Comments: This species is endemic to Clingman's Dome and has not been observed since it was first described in 1938. It was probably highly dependent on Spruce-fir Forests and their associated cool, wet, microclimates for its survival. If it has, in fact, survived, it would be likely to be highly vulnerable to extinction due to the warming and drying impacts of climate change as well as impacts that affect the Spruce-fir forests more specifically.