Genus Bembidion Latreille 1802

Carabidae, Coleoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

Matthew Denton, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA 98505 USA.

01 April 1997

| Genus key | species list | B. connivens

Identification

This is the largest genus in the carabid family. Species have a uniform appearance and size (8.5 mm) with long antennae and legs, and rapid movements. Distinguished by rudimentary terminal segment of the maxillary palp, and pubescent third antennal segment. Separation of species within genus is difficult. External characteristics of importance for species identification are the frontal furrows, supraorbital punctures, dorsal punctures, preapical puncture, preapical spot, metasternal process. Diagnostic combinations for this genus are elytron having first striae straight, not recurved apically; scutellar striole present; intervals impunctate.

Range

Worldwide in distribution with highest diversity centered in temperate regions.

Natural History

Over 300 species are found in North America. Most are hygrophilous and live near water; may be abundant on gravel banks of running waters where their staple food consists of dead and dying insects drifting ashore. Other species are confined to marshy ground rich in vegetation. Most Bembidion can be associated with a particular soil type; some occur exclusively in alkaline areas and prairie habitats. Almost all Bembidion species hibernate as adults.

References

Kavanaugh, D. H. 1992. Carabid beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences Number 16. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA.

For information about this page: John T. Longino longinoj@evergreen.edu

Last modified: 04/01/1997