Promecognathus laevissimus, also known as the smooth millipede hunter,[2] is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in western North America, including Oregon, California, and Nevada.[1]
| Promecognathus laevissimus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Carabidae |
| Genus: | Promecognathus |
| Species: | P. laevissimus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Promecognathus laevissimus (Dejean, 1829)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Eripus laevissimus, Promecognathus debilis | |
P. laevissimus is closely related to Promecognathus crassus. Like P. crassus, P. laevissimus uses its large jaws to feed on millipedes, including those that produce hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde, like Xystocheir dissecta. It has a high tolerance to these toxins.[3]
Adult P. laevissimus are glossy black beetles 5–18 millimetres (0.20–0.71 in) long with long jaws and a narrow thorax. They are nocturnal.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b Bousquet, Yves (2012-11-28). "Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera: Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico". ZooKeys (245): 1–1722. Bibcode:2012ZooK..245....1B. doi:10.3897/zookeys.245.3416. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3577090. PMID 23431087.
- ^ a b Will, Kip; Gross, Joyce; Rubinoff, Daniel; Powell, Jerry A. (2020). Field Guide to California Insects. Oakland, California: University of California Press. p. 196. ISBN 9780520288744.
- ^ Weary, Brandt P; Will, Kipling W (2020-09-11). Sime, Karen (ed.). "The Millipede-Predation Behavior of Promecognathus and Exceptional Cyanide Tolerance in Promecognathus and Metrius (Coleoptera: Carabidae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 113 (6): 473–480. doi:10.1093/aesa/saaa023. ISSN 0013-8746 – via Academic Search Complete.
Further reading
edit- Lobl, I.; Smetana, A., eds. (2017). Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera, Volume 1: Archostemata - Myxophaga - Adephaga. Apollo Books. ISBN 978-90-04-33029-0.
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