Euplectus duryi

Casey, 1908

ant-loving beetle

Euplectus duryi is a small in the , specifically within the Pselaphinae—a group commonly known as -loving . The was described by Thomas L. Casey in 1908. It occurs across much of North America, with records spanning from Canada (British Columbia to Quebec and the Maritimes) throughout the United States from the Atlantic seaboard west to Arizona and Colorado. Like other pselaphines, it is typically found in leaf litter and soil where it associates with ant colonies.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Euplectus duryi: /juːˈplɛktəs ˈdjʊriˌaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Habitat

Leaf litter and soil ; associated with colonies as indicated by its membership in the ant-loving Pselaphinae. Specific microhabitat preferences beyond general forest floor and soil environments have not been documented.

Distribution

North America: Canada (British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec); United States (Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin).

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Euplectus duryi belongs to the tribe Euplectini within the speciose Pselaphinae. The Euplectus contains numerous small-bodied that are frequently encountered in forest floor and are distinguished by their compact body form and reduced characteristic of the subfamily.

Etymology

The specific epithet 'duryi' likely honors Charles Dury (1846–1938), a prominent Cincinnati naturalist and who made significant contributions to the study of North , particularly in the Ohio River valley region.

Tags

Sources and further reading