Pelophila borealis
This record describes Pelophila borealis (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Pelophila borealis is a species of ground beetle in Nebriinae subfamily which was described by Gustaf von Paykull in 1790. The species can be found in Belarus, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. It is black in colour and is shiny. The species ranges from 9.5–10.1 millimetres (0.37–0.40 in) in length.
Wikipedia reference for Pelophila borealis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelophila_borealis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Nebriinae
- Tribe
- Pelophilini
- Genus
- Pelophila
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Holarctic circumpolar, arctic/subarctic transcontinental in NA AB, AK, BC, LB, MB, NF, NT, ON, PQ, SK, YT
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Pelophila borealis. 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 Pelophila borealis (5)
Photo credits: (c) Александр Корепанов, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Александр Корепанов | (c) Mark Gurney, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA) | (c) Udo Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) | Contributed by Tim Loh; Additional contributions by Bbarnd , v belov