Beetles of North Carolina
Family (Alpha):
Scientific Name: Common Name:
« »
View Carabidae Members:
Members of Trechus:
1 NC Records

Trechus tobiasi 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 tobiasi belongs to subgenus Microtrechus and is included in the Nebulosus Species Group by Donabauer (2005b). In addition to tobiasi, 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 Tusquitee Bald in the Nantahala Mountains (Donabauer, 2005b)
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Donabauer (2005b)                                                              
Comments: "Body entirely dark piceous, elytra shiny with slight bluish lustre, paler along suture. Legs reddish, sometimes partly darkened on femur, antenna reddish piceous, darker than legs" (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]: 3.7-4.7 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: Tusquitee Bald is 5,240' in elevation and is covered with high elevation hardwood forest. Donabauer (2005b) reported finding this species near springs
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 only from a single, high elevation summit. Like other members of its genus, it is probably a climate relict and highly vulnerable to the warming and drying impacts of climate change.