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Zacotus matthewsi
Carabidae overview
Key to genera
Identification:
Medium sized (12-18mm) with a convex almost cylindrical body. A dazzling species which is light black to black with slightly paler appendages. Upper surface with pronounced metallic lustre from violaceous to bright green. Coastal specimens average larger, are bright metallic, usually coppery, and more coarsely sculptured on head and prothorax. Specimens from east of the Cascades are dull violaceous and finely sculptured.
Range:
Found in Western North America from southeastern Alaska, south to northern California, and east to southeastern British Columbia, northern Idaho, and northwestern Montana.
Natural History:
Inhabits heavy coniferous forests under logs and needle duff during the day. Active at night in areas where needle duff is very deep and free of low plant cover. Adults are brachypterous and incapable of flight.
References:
Kavanaugh, D. H. 1992. Carabid beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences Number 16. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA.
Lindroth, C. H. 1961-1969. The ground beetles (Carabidae excl. Cicindelinae) of Canada and Alaska. Parts 1-6. Opuscula Entomologica xlviii + 1192 pp.
Last updated Friday, July 21, 2006, by Lisa Ferrier
