Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#40555
Long-face Carabid - Scaphinotus velutinus

Long-face Carabid - Scaphinotus velutinus
Cascade Head, Lincoln County, Oregon, USA
May 14, 2002
Size: 25 mm

Moved

My two cents:
Using Gidaspow's key & descriptions (1973), I come up with S. (Stenocantharus) velutinus: more bulbous elytra, broadening toward apex, striated elytra as depicted for that species (Gidaspow, 1973; Fig. 54 for S. velutinus from Mary's Peak in neighboring Lincoln County). Though the pronotum can vary, this specimen comes closer to velutinus than rugiceps which also is in a different subgenus (Brennus). The illustration link given by Samuel G. Perry is from the 1968 revision covering only the latter subgenus.
In terms of distribution, S. velutinus ranges from northern California through western Oregon. Size given for this species: 18-28mm.

 
Agreed, looks like Scaphinotus velutinus
I also think this specimen matches the descriptions of Scaphinotus velutinus. The elytra here depict a widening apically, obliterated shoulders, and 2-3 striae raised above others.

From Gidaspow (1973):
"Scaphinotus (Stenocantharus) velutinus from Oregon
has a quite variable shape of the pronotum,
the sides of which can be arcuate or angulated,
expanded at the front or narrow, often with
purple luster, and invariably has heavy, transverse
wrinkles on the sides at the base. The elytra
are bulbous, broader toward the apex, the elytral
striae are less regular, the intervals merging, and
two, rarely three, intervals are more distinct,
more elevated, and do not merge with adjacent
ones; the elytral margin is very often wide,
brilliant purple or bluish purple."

Maybe Scaphinotus rugiceps? H
Maybe Scaphinotus rugiceps? Here is a drawing of the pronotum from Gidaspow's revision http://i48.tinypic.com/2wbuv6o.jpg

May be a different species.
I think this might be a different species. S. angusticollis, in my experience, has very dull, evenly-striated elytra (wing covers). Genus is certainly correct. Another lovely specimen:-)

 
Now I am wondering
ID was made from Bugs of Washington and Oregon book. It is a simple guide however, probably not as exact as I was hoping for. As I did some internet seaching and looking at other S. angusticollis specimens, their posterior abdomens are more uniformly broad while this specimen comes more to a point before it is rounded. I have only two other possiblities. Check them out: http://www.evergreen.edu/ants/TESCBiota/kingdom/animalia/phylum/arthropoda/class/insecta/order/coleoptera/family/Carabidae/genera/SCAPHINOTUS/species/angulatus/S_angulatus.htm