Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Galeritula
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Fabricius 1801
Latin galeritus 'wearing fur hat'
Numbers
8 spp. in our area (all but
G. aequinoctialis in the subg.
Progaleritina), ca. 90 worldwide
(1)Identification
Compare head shapes of G. bicolor vs. G. janus:
key to the three SC spp. in
(2)Range
worldwide except the Australian region, but not far north (and only in the Pacific part of the Palearctic); in NA, transcontinental in the south and along the Mississippi Basin north to MB in the west and MA in the east;
G. bicolor and
G. janus are widespread eastern species;
G. lecontei is found in so. and sw. US (the only sp. ranging into CA) and Mexico
(1)Habitat
Open woodlands, under stones, leaves. Come to lights, sometimes wander into houses.
Season
Much of year in south. In SC, G. bicolor Feb-Dec, G. janus Apr-Dec, G. lecontei Apr-Aug + Nov
Food
Adults eat other insects, especially caterpillars
(3)Life Cycle
Eggs are deposited in a purse-shaped mud cell on the underside of smooth leaves; this behavior + the distinctive larva suggest an unusual way of life
(1)
Caution: These beetles have chemical defenses (see
Rossini et al. 1997)
Remarks
in NC,
G. janus is common in the mountains and
G. bicolor occurs mostly at lower elevations
(4)Print References
Ball G.E. & A.P. Nimmo (1983) Synopsis of the species of subgenus Proglaeritina Jeannel, including reconstructed phylogeny and geographical history (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Galerita Fabricius). Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc. 109(4): 295-356.
King J.L. (1919) Notes on the biology of the carabid genera Brachynus, Galerita and Chlaenius. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 12: 382-390.
Reichardt H. (1967) A monographic revision of the American Galeritini (Coleoptera, Carabidae). Arquives de Zoologia 25: 1-176.
Contributed by
Cotinis on 12 April, 2004 - 12:51pm
Additional contributions by
Lynette,
v belovLast updated 24 April, 2011 - 6:32pm
