Galerita lecontei
This record describes Galerita lecontei (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
The range of this subspecies is disjunct: there is an eastern component ranging from Virginia to southwestern Kentucky (Trigg County, Foster F. Purrington pers. comm. 2011) southwards to southern Florida and South Bimini Island in the Bahamas, westwards to eastern Texas; the western population ranges from central California southeastwards to the state of Durango in Mexico disjunct sp.: eastern component se.US (VA-KY to s.FL-e.TX); the western population c.CA to Durango, Mexico Type Locality: restricted to Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Harpalinae
- Tribe
- Galeritini
- Genus
- Galerita (False Bombardier Beetles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
so.US (CA‒FL to NC‒KY); Bahamas, Mexico ; other sspp. in Mesoamerica & West Indies
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Galerita lecontei Dejean 1831
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Galerita lecontei. 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 Galerita lecontei (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by v belov; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Galerita lecontei
What is Galerita lecontei?
Galerita lecontei is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Galerita lecontei?
14.9‒20.0 mm
How do you identify Galerita lecontei?
The range of this subspecies is disjunct: there is an eastern component ranging from Virginia to southwestern Kentucky (Trigg County, Foster F. Purrington pers. comm. 2011) southwards to southern Florida and South Bimini Island in the Bahamas, westwards to eastern Texas; the western population ranges from central California southeastwards to the state of Durango in Mexico disjunct sp.: eastern component se.US (VA-KY to s.FL-e.TX); the western population c.CA to Durango, Mexico
Where is Galerita lecontei found?
Range: so.US (CA‒FL to NC‒KY); Bahamas, Mexico ; other sspp. in Mesoamerica & West Indies