ColeopteraCarabidae – Ground Beetles

Harpalus megacephalus 0

Harpalus megacephalus

This record describes Harpalus megacephalus (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.

Identification and Appearance

Harpalus megacephalus 0 - Harpalus megacephalus
(c) Nick Bédard, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nick Bédard

Harpalus megacephalus is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae. It was described by Leconte in 1848.

Identification notes

adult habitus (holotype)

Wikipedia reference for Harpalus megacephalus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpalus_megacephalus.

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder
Adephaga
Family
Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
Subfamily
Harpalinae
Tribe
Harpalini
Genus
Harpalus

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

ne NA (NB‒ME to MB‒SD)

Additional species information

Species notes from the sources

Etymology: Harpalus megacephalus LeConte 1847

About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group

Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Harpalus megacephalus. 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.

Explore Coleoptera families and species →

Photos of Harpalus megacephalus 0 (2)

Harpalus megacephalus 0 - photo 1
(c) Nick Bédard, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nick Bédard | Contributed by v belov
Harpalus megacephalus 0 - photo 2
(c) Nick Bédard, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nick Bédard | Contributed by v belov

Photo credits: (c) Nick Bédard, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nick Bédard | Contributed by v belov

Frequently Asked Questions About Harpalus megacephalus 0

What is Harpalus megacephalus 0?

Harpalus megacephalus 0 (Harpalus megacephalus) is a species in the family Carabidae, within the order Coleoptera.

How big is Harpalus megacephalus 0?

8.0‒9.4 mm

How do you identify Harpalus megacephalus 0?

adult habitus (holotype)

Where is Harpalus megacephalus 0 found?

Range: ne NA (NB‒ME to MB‒SD)

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: (c) Nick Bédard, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nick Bédard | Contributed by v belov. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.