Stenolophus maculatus

Schaum, 1860

Stenolophus maculatus is a of ground beetle in the Carabidae. It is to North America. The species was described by Schaum in 1860 and is currently accepted under that name, though it has also been treated as Acupalpus maculatus. It belongs to the tribe Stenolophini, a group of small to medium-sized ground beetles often associated with moist .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Stenolophus maculatus: /stɛˈnɒləfəs mækjʊˈleɪtəs/

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Identification

Members of the Stenolophus are small to medium-sized carabid beetles, typically 5–10 mm in length, with thread-like and relatively long legs adapted for rapid movement. Within Stenolophus, are distinguished by subtle differences in elytral , color pattern, and male genitalia. Stenolophus maculatus can be recognized by its maculate (spotted) elytral pattern, though specific diagnostic features require examination of or detailed original descriptions.

Distribution

North America, with records from the United States. GBIF distribution records confirm presence in the USA.

Similar Taxa

Stenolophus leconteiSimilar size and preference; distinguished by differences in elytral coloration and male genitalia.
Stenolophus ochropezusOverlapping range in North America; distinguished by elytral pattern and pronotal shape.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Catalogue of Life lists Stenolophus maculatus as a synonym of Acupalpus maculatus, while GBIF treats it as an accepted under Stenolophus maculatus (LeConte, 1869). This discrepancy reflects historical confusion between the Stenolophus and Acupalpus, which have been variously treated as distinct or synonymous by different authors. The species epithet 'maculatus' refers to the spotted or maculate appearance of the .

Observation Data

iNaturalist reports 36 observations of this , indicating it is documented but not frequently encountered by citizen scientists.