Dicaelus costatus
LeConte, 1853
South Texas embossed carabid
Dicaelus costatus is a of ground beetle in the Carabidae, commonly known as the South Texas embossed carabid. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. The species is to southern Texas and adjacent regions of Mexico, representing a geographically restricted member of the Dicaelus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Dicaelus costatus: /daɪˈsiːləs ˈkɒsteɪtəs/
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Identification
As a member of the Dicaelus, this possesses the characteristic embossed or sculptured that give the group its . The specific epithet "costatus" (meaning ribbed or ridged) suggests the presence of distinct longitudinal or ridges on the elytra. Species-level identification requires examination of external genitalia and detailed comparison with , particularly D. sculptilis and D. dilatatus which occur in overlapping ranges.
Distribution
The is restricted to southern Texas, USA and adjacent northern Mexico. GBIF records confirm presence in both countries with North American distribution centered on the South Texas Plains ecoregion.
Similar Taxa
- Dicaelus sculptilisOverlapping geographic range in Texas; both share embossed and require genitalic examination for reliable separation.
- Dicaelus dilatatusOccurs in similar southern Texas ; distinguished by subtle differences in pronotal and elytral .
More Details
Taxonomic history
First described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853, a prominent 19th century American entomologist who described thousands of North American beetles.
Nomenclature
The specific epithet "costatus" refers to ribbed or ridged sculpturing, a characteristic feature of the in this .