Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Genus Diacheila

Diachelia - Diacheila arctica - female Diacheila polita Diacheila polita Diacheila arctica Diacheila arctica Diacheila arctica, rare northern Carabid - Diacheila arctica
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Adephaga
Family Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
Subfamily Elaphrinae
Genus Diacheila
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Arctobia C.G. Thomson
Numbers
2 spp. in our area (both Holarctic) + one Palearctic(1)
Size
7-9 mm(Lindroth 1961)
Identification
Within Elaphrini: "1- Pronotum with 2 setae on each lateral margin, one near hind angle and one near middle. Elytral striae distinctly developed on disc; middle coxa with one or two setae---> 2- Pronotum with lateral portion not explanate. Frontal furrows shallowly impressed and linear. Mentum with one pair of setae. Clypeus without impressions."(1)
images of both NA spp. here
Range
Holarctic circumpolar; in NA, arctic tundra (LB-AK) into the northern forest zone(1)
Habitat
margins of small lakes/ponds; dry tundra(1); D. arctica is strongly hygrophilous, D. polita less hygrophilous, sometimes inhabiting rather dry sites (Lindroth 1961)
Print References
Lindroth C.H. (1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969a,b) The ground-beetles (Carabidae, excl. Cicindelinae) of Canada and Alaska, Parts 1-6. Opuscula Entomologica Supplementum XXXV: 1-1192, I-XLVIII.
Works Cited
1.American Beetles, Volume I: Archostemata, Myxophaga, Adephaga, Polyphaga: Staphyliniformia
Arnett, R.H., Jr., and M. C. Thomas. (eds.). 2000. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL.