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 thunderheadensis 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 thunderheadensis belongs to subgenus Microtrechus and was included in the Uncifer Species Group by Donabauer (2005a). In addition to thunderheadensis, Bosquet (2012) includes 10 other species in this group, all of which occur in the North Carolina mountains or on the ridges forming the border between North Carolina and Tennessee.
Species Status: The type locality is Thunderhead Mountain on the crest of the Great Smoky Mountains along the North Carolina-Tennesse state line (Donabauer, 2005a)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Donabauer (2005a)                                                              
Comments: "The body is entirely reddish pale to almost piceous (extremely variable), elytra very shiny with a bluish lustre. The legs are entirely pale, contrasting with the body. First segments of the antennae are pale, segments 3 or 4 and all following are slightly darker" (Donabauer, 2005a). In general, 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]: 2.9 - 3.2 mm (Donabauer, 2005a)
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, 2005a).
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: Thunderhead Mountain is 5,527'. The summit covered and south slope is covered with heaths but high elevation hardwoods cover the north slope (from Google Earth)
See also Habitat Account for General High Elevation Forests
Diet: Predatory on small insects and other invertebrates
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency:
Adult Phenology:
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [SR]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S1]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is known from a single, high elevation summit. Like other members of this genus, it appears to be a climate relict and is probably highly vulnerable to the warming and drying impacts of climate change.