Eucaerus LeConte, 1853

Erwin, Terry L. & Zamorano, Laura S., 2014, A synopsis of the tribe Lachnophorini, with a new genus of Neotropical distribution and a revision of the Neotropical genus Asklepia Liebke, 1938 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae), ZooKeys 430, pp. 1-108 : 13

Eucaerus LeConte, 1853 Easy fit beetles Figs 10 , 23

Eucaerus LeConte, 1853:386

Type species.

Eucaerus varicornis LeConte, 1853:387

Way of life.

Size range - 2.4 mm to 5.5 mm; these species are all hygrophilous, occurring in rotting leaf litter in densely shaded wet situations, stream sides, or swamps, and at margins of open marshes. They are common in some places; however, they run fast and it is difficult to obtain series without a lot of work. The opposite is true at other places where 100 or more individuals will flush together from a third of a square meter of wet leaf litter. Their way of life is unknown, but they likely are predatory on small arthropods.

Distribution.

Maryland, USA south through Texas and Florida to Brazil, including the larger Caribbean islands, México, and Central America.

Notes.

Currently, 10 described species are assigned to this genus; however, several more species are represented in the NMNH collection. A taxonomic revision of the group is needed. Identification of species is impossible without recourse to types.

References.

Ball and Hilchie (1983); Liebherr (1988); Erwin (1991); Ball and Bousquet (2000); Bousquet (2012); Erwin et al. (2012).

Figures

Figure 7 - 10. 7 Calybe sp. Digital Photo-illustration. Habitus, dorsal aspect, based on specimen ADP 132561 from Pakitza, Peru 8 Diplacanthogaster bicolor Liebke. Digital Photo-illustration. Habitus, dorsal aspect, based on specimen ADP 133817 from Ouro Preto, Brazil 9 Ega sp. (no described species of this genus is known from Peru). Digital Photo-illustration. Habitus, dorsal aspect, based on specimen ADP 132560 from Pakitza, Peru 10 Eucaerus sp. Digital Photo-illustration. Habitus, dorsal aspect, based on specimen ADP 132552 from Pakitza, Peru.

Figures 23 - 28. Mouthparts of adults. 23 Eucaerus sp. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132552 from Pakitza, Peru 24 Euphorticus sp. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132558 from Tapilula, Mexico 25 Guatemalteca virgen Erwin. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132546 from nr. La Virgen, Costa Rica 26 Lachnaces sp. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132578 from Tambopata Reserved Zone, Explorer's Inn, Peru 27 Lachnophorus sp. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132570 from Pakitza, Peru 28 Pseudophorticus sp. Mouthparts, ventral aspect, based on specimen ADP 132538 from Pakitza, Peru. Legend: a 3 Antennomere 3; mt Mentum tooth; m Mentum; lp 3 Labial palpomere 3; mp 4 Maxillary palpomere 4.