Black ground beetle

Agonum sp. per BugGuide (microscopic inspection likely needed for further classification)

comments (9)

Christine Young

Lion

I would say it's a ground beetle, family Carabidae. Do you have any photos of the antennae? Posted 4 years ago
1. morpheme
  
  Lion
  
  I do - I have some side views that capture the antenna in pretty good detail. 10 or 11 segments (do you count the first one that is the 'base') of roughly equal size and shape, except for the first one after the antenna base which is 1/2 sized - nothing fancy at the tip, just rounded, a couple of little light hairs at each joint.
  
  I will look into the ground beetles. This fellow doesn't have a lot of unique features, other than being pretty small, so I'm not sure how far I will manage to get. Posted 3 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    That's a really good question about the antennal segments, which can be super confusing.
    
    At the base of the antennae are the scape and pedicel. Then, the uniform (usually) segments after that are called the flagellum (each little segment of the flagellum is called a flagellomere). So, antennae consist of those 3 basic parts: scape, pedicel, and flagellum. The scape is the base, the pedicel is like a stem, while the flagellum is whip-like.
    
    Here's the deal with counting them: it depends on the wording. If the key asks for the number of antennal segments, then you would count everything (including the scape and pedicel). All visible antennal segments are antennomeres in this case. The scape would be antennomere 1, the pedicel would be antennomere 2, and the rest of the antenomeres would refer to the segments of the flagellum.
    
    But, if it asks for the number of flagellar segments, then you count everything except the scape and pedicel. In this case, you start counting with the first flagellomere.
    
    Sorry if this is TMI, lol. I am long-winded.
    Posted 3 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      And, I just realized that you got a genus-level ID! That's fantastic because there are so many similar-looking, black ground beetles! Posted 3 years ago
    2. 1. morpheme
        
        Lion
        
        Ha - if it were me... someone on BugGuide recognized it right off to the genus level. I lean on them pretty heavily for insect IDs. Sometimes getting to the genus is enough that I can do the rest of the work detail and narrow it down by distribution or unique features. The talk when you look at the species for this one is mostly about send me a sample to put under the the scope if you really want to know though... Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
      2. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        I love BugGuide. I have gotten a lot of help from them, especially with aquatic insects and obscure species.
        
        Haha, I know it about them asking for samples! I sometimes will save a specimen, anticipating that someone on BG will ask me if I have one. But, those are always the specimens that nobody wants/needs. Then, I don't collect specimens of the insects that require expert dissection to ID.Lol, ugh... Posted 3 years ago
    3. morpheme
      
      Lion
      
      Definitely not TMI - I don't know a great deal about insects.. trying to key them, I end up looking up a lot of terminology... and then don't always 'get' what I'm supposed to be looking at. I'm happy to get a lesson :). Posted 3 years ago
    4. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Oh good! There is always more to learn (and re-learn as I often forget things). I'm like that with mushrooms -- having to look everything up. Even then, I am still confused. Posted 3 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

Speaking of beetles, there’s a new ID guide coming out in a couple weeks. I have the eastern version and it is fantastic:

https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691164281/beetles-of-western-north-america Posted 3 years ago

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By morpheme

Uploaded Sep 10, 2021. Captured Sep 9, 2021 11:56 in Unnamed Road, Bothell, WA 98012, USA.

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80mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.

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