Beetles of North Carolina
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Scientific Name: Common Name:
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View Carabidae Members:
Members of Trechus:
2 NC Records

Trechus toxawayi 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 toxawayi belongs to subgenus Microtrechus and is included in the Uncifer Species Group by Barr (1979). In addition to toxawayi, 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: This species was originally described as a subspecies of Trechus aduncus by Barr (1979) but was raised to full species status by Donabauer (2005a). The type locality is Toxaway Mountain in Jackson County (Barr, 1979).
Identification
Field Guide Descriptions: Online Resources: BugGuide, Wikipedia, GBIF   iNaturalistTechnical Description, Adults/Nymphs: Barr (1979)                                                              
Comments: 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]: 3.2-3.3 mm (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, 1962, 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: Toxaway Mountain is 4777' in elevation and covered with high elevation hardwoods. "The type series was collected from beneath a mat of decaying leaves at the base of a low, sloping rock cliff" (Barr, 1979)
See also Habitat Account for General High Elevation Forests
Diet: Predatory on small insects and other invertebrates
Observation Methods:
Abundance/Frequency: Donabauer (2005a) considered this species to be very rare at the type locality; he could find only a single specimen in the two trips he made to this site
Adult Phenology:
Status in North Carolina
Natural Heritage Program Status: [SR]
Natural Heritage Program Ranks: [GNR] [S1]
State Protection:
Comments: This species is only known from a single, high elevation summit. In addition to the threats posed to this genus by climate change, the top of Toxaway Mountain and the adjoining ridges are being developed. This site was visited twice by Donabauer (2005a) and thoroughly searched for this species. Only one individual was found and Donabauer speculated that this species was probably close to extinction.