Agonum muelleri

(Herbst, 1784)

Müller's Harp Ground Beetle

Agonum muelleri is a ground beetle in the Carabidae, widespread across the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Near East regions. It is notably abundant in agricultural landscapes, particularly soybean fields, where it functions as an active of pest insects. The species exhibits atypical for a ground beetle by readily climbing vegetation to hunt prey. Two are recognized: A. muelleri muelleri and A. muelleri unicolor.

Coleoptera - Agonum muelleri (3419503339) by Mick Talbot from Lincoln (U.K.), England. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.Agonum muelleri (19454784289) by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.Agonum muelleri (19020440873) by Donald Hobern from Copenhagen, Denmark. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Agonum muelleri: //əˈɡoʊnəm ˈmjuːlərɪ//

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Habitat

Agricultural fields, particularly soybean fields (Glycine max); also found in various open across its broad geographic range including grasslands and disturbed areas.

Distribution

Native to the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Near East. In Europe: Albania, Azores, Baltic states, Belarus, Benelux, Great Britain (including Isle of Man), Northern Ireland, mainland Portugal, Russia, Sardinia, Sicily (doubtful), mainland Spain, Ukraine, Scandinavia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, and Central Europe. Also present in the Azores (Faial, Graciosa, São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira).

Diet

(Aphis glycines). Has been observed to reduce numbers of aphids in caged experiments.

Host Associations

  • Glycine max - /vegetation substrateSoybean plants climbed by for foraging
  • Aphis glycines - preySoybean aphid, primary documented prey item

Behavior

Exhibits climbing on soybean plants, moving up and down repeatedly. spend 12.5–54.1% of their time on soybean plants. Active that hunts on vegetation rather than remaining strictly ground-dwelling.

Ecological Role

of agricultural pest insects, specifically . on aphids indirectly reduces nymphal . Functions as part of natural in agroecosystems.

Human Relevance

Potential agent for soybean aphid management in programs. Abundance in soybean fields suggests significance for natural pest suppression in major agricultural crops.

Similar Taxa

  • Other Agonum species members share general body plan and preferences; A. muelleri distinguished by documented climbing and specific association with soybean agroecosystems in studied

More Details

Subspecies

Two recognized: Agonum muelleri muelleri and Agonum muelleri unicolor

Research significance

Among the few ground beetles documented to routinely climb crop plants for , challenging assumptions about carabid foraging

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Sources and further reading