Scaphinotus debilis
(LeConte, 1853)
weakly thorax snail-eating beetle
Scaphinotus debilis is a ground beetle in the Carabidae, placed in the tribe Cychrini. The is to the southeastern United States, with records from Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Two are recognized: the nominate S. d. debilis and S. d. alpinus, the latter restricted to high-elevation areas of North Carolina. Like other members of its , it is a specialized of land snails.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Scaphinotus debilis: /ˌskæfɪˈnoʊtəs ˈdɛbɪlɪs/
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Distribution
Southeastern United States: Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The nominate occurs across this range, while subspecies alpinus is restricted to alpine areas of North Carolina.
Diet
Specialized of land snails, as indicated by the "snail-eating ."
Ecological Role
of land snails in forest floor and montane .
Similar Taxa
- Scaphinotus elevatusAnother southeastern U.S. Scaphinotus ; elevatus occurs in more northern Appalachian regions and can be distinguished by subtle differences in pronotal and elytral sculpturing.
- Scaphinotus angusticollisWidespread western North American ; with debilis but similar in general form and snail-feeding .