moon-collared harp ground beetle

(Amara lunicollis)

Conservation Status
moon-collared harp ground beetle
Photo by Sara Brice
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Amara lunicollis is a medium-sized, seed-eating ground beetle. It occurs in northern Europe, where it is widespread and common, and in southern Canada and northern United States, where it is scattered and uncommon. It is found in forest edges and openings, cultivated fields, meadows, roadsides, and other open areas, especially near water. Adults feed on seeds.

Adults are ¼ to (7.3 to 9.0 mm) long and elongated oval shaped. They are shiny black with a copper-colored iridescence.

The antennae are reddish-brown, are thread-like, and have 11 segments. They are inserted between the compound eyes and the mandibles. The mouth parts are directed forward.

The exoskeletal plate covering the thorax (pronotum) is broad. The sides are slightly curved. The lateral margins have a narrow, flattened, sharp edge. The rear margin is straight, not wavy. There is a depression near the base at the middle. The exoskeletal plate between the wing bases (scutellum) is visible.

The hardened wing covers (elytra) are long, completely covering the abdomen. Each elytron has 7 longitudinal grooves and no pits (punctures).

The legs are reddish-brown. The fourth segment (tibia) of the front leg has a spur at the tip. The spur is not forked. The last part of each leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

Total length: ¼ to (7.3 to 9.0 mm)

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
     
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Forest edges and openings, cultivated fields, meadows, roadsides, and other open areas

 
     
 
Biology
 
 

Season

 
 

 

 
     
 

Behavior

 
 

 

 
     
 

Life Cycle

 
 

 

 
     
 

Larva Food

 
 

 

 
     
 

Adult Food

 
 

Seeds

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

 
  12/31/2021      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Uncommon

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
 

Order

Coleoptera (beetles)  
 

Suborder

Adephaga (ground and water beetles)  
 

Superfamily

Caraboidea  
 

Family

Carabidae (ground beetles)  
 

Subfamily

Pterostichinae  
 

Tribe

Zabrini (seed-eating ground beetles)  
  Subtribe Amarina  
  Genus Amara (sun beetles)  
 

Subgenus

Amara  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

moon-collared harp ground beetle

moon-collar sun beetle

moon hill ground beetle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Elytra

The hardened or leathery forewings of beetles used to protect the fragile hindwings, which are used for flying. Singular: elytron.

 

Pronotum

The exoskeletal plate on the upper side of the first segment of the thorax of an insect.

 

Scutellum

The exoskeletal plate covering the rearward (posterior) part of the middle segment of the thorax in some insects. In Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Homoptera, the dorsal, often triangular plate behind the pronotum and between the bases of the front wings. In Diptera, the exoskeletal plate between the abdomen and the thorax.

 

Tarsus

On insects, the last two to five subdivisions of the leg, attached to the tibia; the foot. On spiders, the last segment of the leg. Plural: tarsi.

 

Tibia

The fourth segment of an insect leg, after the femur and before the tarsus (foot). The fifth segment of a spider leg or palp.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
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Sara Brice

 
    moon-collared harp ground beetle      
           
 
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Other Videos
 
  Amara lunicollis
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About

Oct 5, 2020

Amara lunicollis. Gatunek chrząszcza z rodziny biegaczowatych - Carabidae.

Zapraszam do subskrypcji.

Google translation: Amara lunicollis. A species of beetle from the carabidae family - Carabidae.
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  Sara Brice
10/30/2020

Location: Rice County MN

moon-collared harp ground beetle  
           
 
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Created: 11/3/2020

Last Updated:

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