Elacatis

Identification of Elacatis species relies on examination of external morphology and male genital structures. A key to the seven Nearctic species (Canada and United States) has been published, supplemented with habitus photographs and images of selected structural features. Specific diagnostic characters vary by species and require detailed morphological analysis.

For E. umbrosus: associated with dead or dying conifers in western North America. Habitat preferences for other species are not well documented.

Nearctic region north of Mexico, including Canada and the United States. Specific documented localities include: western North America (E. umbrosus), Nebraska Box Butte County (E. larsoni), and Arizona Cochise County (E. stephani). Two species, E. senecionis and E. immaculatus, have been recorded from north of Mexico for the first time in recent revisions.

For E. umbrosus only: larvae are thought to be xylophagous, feeding on dead wood; adults are very likely predaceous. Diet for other Elacatis species is not documented.

• dead/dying conifers - habitat/larval substratespecifically for E. umbrosus in western North America

• OthniusHistorical confusion with Elacatis; the new synonymy Othnius umbrosus = Othnius lugubris was proposed, with the valid name being E. umbrosus (LeConte). These genera share subfamily placement (Othniinae) and require careful morphological distinction.

• Coleoptera
• Salpingidae
• false tiger beetles
• Nearctic
• xylophagous larvae
• predaceous adults
• conifer-associated

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Review of the Nearctic (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Othniinae)