Gracious Ground Beetle
Agonum gratiosum
This record describes Agonum gratiosum (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Agonum gratiosum is a species of ground beetle in the Platyninae subfamily. It is found in Chukotka region, Russia and Kamchatka, and also in Alaska, United States.
Identification notes
Note the contrasting pale portion of the antennae distal to the first four dark segments.
Wikipedia reference for Agonum gratiosum: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonum_gratiosum.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Harpalinae
- Tribe
- Platynini
- Genus
- Agonum
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Holarctic. NF-AK, CA-NM-KS-IL-WV. State/Province Records: CAN: AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NS (CBI), NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT USA: AK, CA, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Agonum gratiosum. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gracious Ground Beetle (3)
Photo credits: (c) Tom Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tom Murray | (c) Iain Walker, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Iain Walker | (c) Dan MacNeal, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan MacNeal | Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Bbarnd
Frequently Asked Questions About Gracious Ground Beetle
What is Gracious Ground Beetle?
Gracious Ground Beetle (Agonum gratiosum) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Gracious Ground Beetle?
Note the contrasting pale portion of the antennae distal to the first four dark segments.
Where is Gracious Ground Beetle found?
Range: Holarctic. NF-AK, CA-NM-KS-IL-WV. State/Province Records: CAN: AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NS (CBI), NT, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT USA: AK, CA, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY