Brachinus cyanipennis

Say, 1823

Cyan-winged Bombardier Beetle

Brachinus cyanipennis is a bombardier beetle in the Carabidae, characterized by explosive defensive chemistry typical of the . Based on molecular phylogenetic analysis using COI, CAD, and 28S gene regions, this species was moved from Erwin's fumans species group to the newly erected cyanipennis species group within the subgenus Neobrachinus. The species is found in North America.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Brachinus cyanipennis: /brəˈkaɪnəs ˌsaɪəniˈpɛnɪs/

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Identification

Belongs to the cyanipennis group of Brachinus (subgenus Neobrachinus), distinguished from other species groups by molecular phylogenetic characters rather than solely morphological traits. The cyanipennis species group was established to reflect a monophyletic clade based on combined mitochondrial and nuclear evidence.

Distribution

North America. Recorded from Canada and the United States.

Behavior

Exhibits explosive defensive chemistry characteristic of bombardier beetles in the Brachinus, though specific details for this are not documented.

Similar Taxa

Other Brachinus (Neobrachinus) species in the fumans groupB. cyanipennis was historically classified in Erwin's fumans group but was separated based on molecular phylogenetic evidence showing that group was polyphyletic
Other species in the cyanipennis species groupForm a monophyletic clade with B. cyanipennis based on molecular evidence from COI, CAD, and 28S loci

More Details

Taxonomic Revision

The cyanipennis group was erected in a 2022 molecular phylogenetic revision to accommodate species previously misplaced in the polyphyletic fumans group. The revision used three loci (COI, CAD, 28S) from mitochondrial and nuclear to reconstruct of the subgenus Neobrachinus.