Genus Dicaelus

Notched Mouth Ground Beetle

Dicaelus Bonelli, 1813

Origin of name is clearly di- Latin two, plus caelus, another Latin word with a couple of possible meanings. Latin caelo, caelare (infinitive), is the verb "to engrave" (Latin Dictionary). Blatchley, p. 114 (1), says that the origin is Greek, meaning "two-pitted", so this would appear to refer to the two indentations in the pronotum.

11 to 27 mm (4)

Large, convex-shaped carabids. Pronotum with basal projections, extending over elytra.

North America

Woodlands, esp. deciduous. Usually found under rocks, logs.

Typically March-November (South Carolina)

Feed on snails.

Tribe Licini.

Blatchley, p. 114 (1)

Arnett, p. 391,fig. 24.39 (2)

Dillon, p. 95, plate XI (5)

White, p. 90, 93, fig. 30 (6)

Arnett et al. pp. 89-90, figs. 232-235 (7)

Papp, p. 54, fig. 153 (8)

Ciegler, pp. 83-85 (9)

Brimley, p. 122 (10)

Lutz, 3rd. ed., plate 55 (11)

Clemson University

Insects NE Iowa--Dicaelus sculptilus

Washington DC Biodiversity

Ground Beetles of Canada

Insects of Cedar Creek--Dicaelus sculptis

North Carolina State University lists 8 spp. for that state.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park lists 8 spp.

Invertebrates of Plummer's Island, Maryland--lists several species, with accounts, comments on habitat.