Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Insects of Cedar Creek

Order COLEOPTERA

NOTIOPHILINI
A single specimen of Notiophilus aeneus taken in burn units south of Fish Lake.

CARABINI
Carabus sylvosus and Carabus serratus are two common woodland species. Carabus maeander is an uncommon species of marshes. Calosoma frigidum occurs in woodlands, and Calosoma calidum, the Fiery Caterpillar Hunter, is an abundant field species.

CYCHRINI
Sphaeroderus lecontei (small) and Scaphinotus elevatus (large) are two fairly common snail hunters with elongate snouts found in mesic woods.

ELAPHRINI
Blethisa quadricollis has been taken in boggy situations and Elaphrus (3+spp--ruscarius, fuliginosus, olivaceous) resemble small Tiger Beetles that are common along muddy pond edges.

SCARITINI
Pasimachus elongatus is a large flightless beetle resembling a Stag Beetle. It is common and widespread in fields. Scarites subterraneus has been taken near Fish Lake. Clivina impressifrons has been collected at light.

BEMBIDIINI
Species of Bembidion (???species) are common to abundant on mud flats. Tachytananus has also been collected.

PATROBINI
A few specimens of Patrobus longicornis have been collected in woodland.

PTEROSTICHINI
Formerly all in the genus Pterostichus, now several new genera are recognized. Species collected in this Tribe include: Poecilus (3 spp--lucublandus, chalcites, laetulus). P. lucublandus can be fairly common in old fields. Bothriopterus (2 spp--pensylvanicus, adstrictus) are common woodland species. Dysidius mutus, Omaseus relictus, Argutor femoralis, and Melanius (3 spp-- corvinus, luctuosus, ebeninus) are infrequently encountered.

AGONINI
Synuchus impunctatus is a common brown woodland species with yellow legs. Calathus gregarius has been taken in small numbers from a variety of fields. The large genus Agonum (7+spp--decentis, gratiosum, mutatum, placidum, sordens,cupripennis, cupreum...) is commonly collected. A. decentis is an abundant woodland species, and A. placidum is perhaps the most frequently encountered field species.

AMARINI
Members of this tribe are relatively common in CCNHA old fields, especially younger weedy ones. Some of the species of Amara (5+spp--laevipennis, impuncticollis, cupreolata, convexa, confusa?) may be seed eaters. Amara convexa and Amara cupreolata have been taken in small numbers from a variety of fields. The others are uncommon to rare. Bradytus latior and Percosia obesa are two relatively common late summer species of weedy fields. P. obesa is reported to be a predator on grasshopper egg pods. Celia sp. is taken in small numbers primarily in xeric fields; and Zizea sp. has been taken from a few fields.

HARPALINI
It is this Tribe that is most abundantly and diversely represented in CCNHA old fields. Many in the genus Harpalus(9+spp) are seed predators. Harpalus caliginosus is a large black species commonly seen crawling upon ragweed (Ambrosiaartemisiifolia) in late summer. It is ubiquitous but most abundant in dry weedy fields. H. bicolor and H. faunus are also fairly common and widespread, though H. faunus tends to be more common in heavy Poa and H. bicolor in drier weedy fields. H. erraticus occurs in fair numbers in xeric fields in late summer. Infrequently collected species of Harpalus include H. herbivagus, H.carolina, H.longicollis, H. fallax andH. viduus.

Euryderus grossus andGeopinus incrassatushave fossorial forelimbs and are taken in fair numbers primarily in xeric fields. Gynandrotarsus merula is a common species of early summer. It is nearly ubiquitous but occurs most abundantly in dry weedy fields. Gynandrotarsusrustica is also fairly common but is less widely distributed. Gynandrotarsus carbonarius is uncommon. Rarer Harpalini not necessarily found in fields include:Anisodactylus (3spp--nigerrimus, nigrita, agricola), Anadaptus (2spp--discoideus, sanctaecrucis), Pseudamphasia sericea, Spongopus verticalis, Xestonotus lugubris, Anisotarsus terminatus. and Selenophorussp. Species of Stenolophus(2 spp) and Agonoderus (2 spp) are fairly common and frequently come to light.

CHLAENIINI
Perhaps five species of Chlaenius (niger, pensylvanicus, sericeus, tomentosus, tricolor) have been collected. C. tomentosus is a common to abundant field species. C. sericeus occurs near water. The remainder are infrequently collected.

OODINI
A few individuals of Oodes amaroides, Lachnocrepis parallelus, andTetragonoderus intersectus have been collected.

LICININI
Dicaelus sculptilis is a common woodland species. Badister sp also collected.

LEBIINI
Members of this tribe, especially the genus Lebia (8 spp--atriventris, fuscata, ornata, pumila, solea, viridis, vittata, bilineata) are sometimes swept from vegetation. L. viridis (a metallic green species) and L. pumila (small dark brown) are the two most common members of the genus. They are predators found on weedy Asteraceae. Calleida punctata is a slender green and orange ground dweller. Four species of Cymindis (americana, borealis, cribricollis, pilosa) have been taken in fall. Dromius piceus also collected.

GALERITINI
Galerita janus is a large attractive orange-and-blue ground beetle that is infrequently collected in fields.

BRACHININI
A single Bombadier Beetle, Brachinus medius?, has been collected.

OMOPHRONINAE
Sometimes placed in a separate Family--the Omophronidae, Omophron (2 spp-americanus, tessellatum) are robust hemispherical beetles that have been collected along the sandy shore of Fish Lake during periods of low water.