Other Common Names
Snail Eaters, Boat-backed Ground Beetles
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 53 spp.
Arnett, p. 388, lists 49 spp.
(1)Identification
Medium to large ground beetles with long, slender mandibles. Pronotum rather flared. Compare to closely related Sphaeroderus and Cychrus.
A
key to the related genera is available on the Info Page - Identification section of tribe Cychrini.
Habitat
Forests, mostly. Found under leaves, rocks.
Season
May-November (south), June-September (north)
Food
Feed on snails, slugs. Mandibles specially adapted for insertion into opening of a snail's shell.
Life Cycle
Nocturnal. Eggs typically laid under debris late spring/early summer. Overwinters as a larva, pupates in spring. May also overwinter as adult.
Print References
Arnett, p. 388, fig. 24.33
(1)
Dillon, p. 63, plate VI
(3)
Papp, pp. 46-47, figs. 130 (fig. 130 is listed in error), 132
(4)
White, p. 88, fig. 28
(5)
Arnett et al. p. 73, fig. 194A, B
(6)
Milne, p. 540, fig. 203
(7)
Arnett and Jacques, #84
(8)
Internet References
Ground Beetles of Canada--tribe Cychrini (includes Scaphinotus)
Contributed by
Cotinis on 1 November, 2004 - 6:48am
Additional contributions by
Peter MesserLast updated 5 July, 2009 - 8:56am
