CLOSED: Iridescent Black Beetle

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Sarahskeeper Brockton, MA(Zone 6a) Feb 04, 2008

I found this crawling in the lawn the day after rain melted all the snow, January 30th. It's about an inch long.
Andy P

Thumbnail by Sarahskeeper
Post #4494135
Quote
Sarahskeeper Brockton, MA(Zone 6a) Feb 04, 2008

It was barely above freezing when I spotted it.
Thanks for your help.
Andy P

Thumbnail by Sarahskeeper
Post #4494143
Quote
claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Feb 04, 2008

It's believe it's one of the ground beetles, Carabidae... maybe this Searcher Beetle? It's gotta be close, I'll keep searching.


http://bugguide.net/node/view/17024

Post #4494203
Quote
wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Feb 04, 2008

These are very difficult, as there are many so similar! Sometimes a microscopic examination is needed, but for a start I htink I have narrowed it down to the Genus Pterostichus

http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/pterostichus.htm

http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/carabidae.htm

http://www.lesinsectesduquebec.com/insecta/24-coleoptera/coleoptera.htm

Post #4494596
Quote
wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Feb 04, 2008

IF Pterostichus is correct, I would hate to try to get to species level,

http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Pterostichus+&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

Post #4494624
Quote
Sarahskeeper Brockton, MA(Zone 6a) Feb 04, 2008

Claypa, Yours looks very close. Right down to the small indentations on the back. http://bugguide.net/node/view/110347
I was very close to this in my search but missed it somehow. Thank you once again.

Wallaby, Yours is close but no tiny indentations. I'm no bug expert but it's fun to photograph them.

I'll consider this one Solved.
Andy P

Thumbnail by Sarahskeeper
Post #4495678
Quote
wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Feb 04, 2008

I missed those small indentations, Carabis nemoralis looks pretty close, it has the violet sheen too.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/80234

Post #4495859
Quote
Sarahskeeper Brockton, MA(Zone 6a) Feb 05, 2008

The little spots are easy to miss. It was so cold that day the bug didn't run off. I got a good look and a couple nice shots.
I've been shooting bugs every month since last spring. Strange.
Andy P

Post #4496324
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP