Anillinus unicoi
This record describes Anillinus unicoi (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Described from a single male collected by sifting litter , the species is more easily collected by searching under rocks at the type locality or by using pipe traps (C. Harden pers. obs.) Part of the moseleyae -group of species, which are all soil-dwellers that occur only at high elevations in the southern Appalachians.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Trechinae
- Tribe
- Anillini
- Genus
- Anillinus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Apparently endemic to the Unicoi mountain range on the NC/TN border. Known from two nearby sites - Stratton Ridge and Huckleberry Knob (C. Harden, pers. obs.)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Anillinus unicoi Sokolov , 2011
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Anillinus unicoi. 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.