Explanation of Names
The genus name no doubt comes from
chlaen, Greek for
cloak.
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 51 species.
Arnett, p. 391, lists 50 species.
(1)Identification
Medium sized to large ground beetles. Attractive, often with vivid metallic coloration of head, pronotum. Pronotum has distinctive "punctures" (indentations). Head, pronotum, and elytra have fine hairs (setae), thus are called "setose" in technical language. Front
tarsomeres 1-3 of male are dilated, have spongy underside, presumably used in mating
(2) (3).
They are covered with hairs that lie flat.
(4)
Some images showing these characteristics:
Reported to smell foul when disturbed (like leather), therefore probably have strong chemical defenses, like many in this family.
Range
Much of North America? Perhaps 20 species in east.
Habitat
Usually moist areas, some semiaquatic.
Season
Typically spring-early summer, again in late summer-fall.
Life Cycle
Some species lay eggs in mud cells place on underside of leaves or twigs. Cell morphology can be distinctive for a species. Presumably most species have one generation per year, with adults overwintering to breed in spring. Come to lights.
Print References
Arnett, p. 391, descr. 2 species, fig. 24.38--C. pensylvanicus
(1)
Ciegler, pp. 78-82, describes and keys 18 spp.
(2)
Dillon, p. 109 (key to 9 spp.), plate XII, XIII--Anomoglossus (now in Chlaenius?)
(3)
Arnett, et al., pp. 99-100, figs. 255-258
(5)
White, p. 92, fig. 30, lists circa 40 spp.
(6)
Swan and Papp, pp. 344-345, figs. 568-570
(8)
Papp, p. 53, figs. 148-151
(9)Internet References
Ground Beetles of Canada illustrates several species--these are the best photographs
Contributed by
Cotinis on 18 October, 2004 - 6:34pm
Additional contributions by
Ted KropiewnickiLast updated 18 October, 2007 - 10:01pm
