Species Elaphrus viridis - Delta green ground beetle

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Elaphrus viridis, Delta Green Ground Beetle - Elaphrus viridis

Delta greeen ground beetle - Elaphrus viridis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Adephaga (Ground and Water Beetles)

Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)

Subfamily Elaphrinae

Tribe Elaphrini

Genus Elaphrus (Marsh Ground Beetles)

Species viridis (Delta green ground beetle)

Explanation of Names

"Delta green ground beetle" probably comes from the "delta" shape on the pronotum.

"Viridis" might mean green.

Size

About 0.6 cm long. See this image

Identification

Bright metallic green, generally with bronze spots on the elytra although some lack the bronze spots. Also, this species lacks or has reduced circular pits on the elytra.

Range

Jepson Prairie Preserve, south of Dixon in Solano County

Habitat

Around the margins of vernal pools and in bare areas along trails and roadsides.

Found under low-growing vegetation such as filaree (Erodium spp.)1

Food

Probably minute invertebrates such as midge larvae and springtails

Remarks

This is a threatened species as of August 8, 1980 under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Print References

(1) GOULET, H. 1983: The genera of Holarctic Elaphrini and species of Elaphrus Fabricius (Coleoptera:Carabidae): classification, phylogeny and zoogeography. Quaestiones Entomologicae, 19: 219-481

Internet References

1 http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/es/animal_spp_acct/delta_green_beetle.htm

Works Cited

1.	The genera of Holarctic Elaphrini and species of Elaphrus Fabricius (Coleoptera:Carabidae) By Henri Goulet

Contributed by Chris Wirth on 5 November, 2005 - 9:34am
Last updated 26 April, 2006 - 1:47pm

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