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BugGuide Gathering
Smoky Mountains
University of Tennessee Biological Field Station
August 8-10, 2008
 
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Photos from the 2007 gathering in Minnesota

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Genus Galerita - False Bombardier Beetles

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)
Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
Subfamily Harpalinae
Tribe Galeritini
Genus Galerita (False Bombardier Beetles)
Other Common Names
Slender Ground Beetles
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Genus sometimes listed as Galeritula.
Explanation of Names
Author of genus is Fabricius 1801. Genus name from Latin, galea, "helmet". Apparently, Galerita means "little helmet" (1).
Size
17-25 mm
Range
Beetles of Florida--lists G. bicolor (range, eastern United States), G. janus (widespread in North America), G. lecontei (southern United States).
Habitat
Open woodlands, under stones, leaves. Attracted to lights, sometimes wander into houses.
Season
Much of year in south. February-December (G. bicolor, South Carolina). April-October, December (G. janus, South Carolina). April-August, November (G. lecontei, South Carolina).
Life Cycle
Caution: This genus has chemical defenses, see Defensive production of formic acid (80%) by a carabid beetle: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 June 24; 94 (13): 6792–6797.
Print References
White describes genus, p. 92, illustrates, p. 93 (3).
Papp illustrates G. janus, describes three species in genus, p.52, fig. 147 (4).
Arnett et al. describe genus, illustrate G. janus, p. 91, fig. 236 (5).
Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, entry for galea (1)
Dillon describes and illustrates G. janus and bicolor, p. 105 and plate XIII (6).
Ciegler, p. 128, figs. 231-233, describes and keys the three South Carolina species (7)
Brimley, p. 124, lists G. janus as common in the mountains of North Carolina, G. bicolor mostly from lower elevations (8).
Sikes, p. 76, lists G. janus for Rhode Island (9).
Salsbury, p. 169--photo of G. janus (10)
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek has a photo of G. bicolor. (They say identification janus/bicolor is difficult.)
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, has an illustration of G. bicolor.
Georgetown University image of G. lecontei, taken in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Clemson University--photo and account of G. bicolor and of Brachinus
Beetles of Florida--lists 3 species, gives general ranges.
Works Cited
1.A Dictionary of Entomology
By George Gordh, David H. Headrick
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
By Ross H. Arnett
3.Peterson Field Guides: Beetles
By Richard E. White
4.Introduction to North American Beetles
By Charles S. Papp
5.How to Know the Beetles
By Ross H. Arnett, N. M. Downie, H. E. Jaques
6.A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America
By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence
7.Ground Beetles and Wrinkled Bark Beetles of South Carolina
By Janet Ciegler
8.Insects of North Carolina
By C.S. Brimley
9.The Beetle Fauna of Rhode Island, an Annotated Checklist
By Derek Sikes
10.Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White