Relic Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus relictus
This record describes Scaphinotus relictus (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Scaphinotus relictus, rilictual snail-eating beetle, is a species of beetle of the Carabidae family. This species is found in North America (Alberta, British Columbia, California, Idaho, Montana, Washington), where it inhabits deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests.
Wikipedia reference for Scaphinotus relictus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaphinotus_relictus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Carabinae
- Tribe
- Cychrini
- Genus
- Scaphinotus (Snail Carabids)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
BC-OR to AB-MT
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Scaphinotus relictus (Horn 1881)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Scaphinotus relictus. 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 Relic Snail-eating Beetle (2)
Photo credits: (c) Ryan Durand, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ryan Durand | Contributed by Curt H.; Additional contributions by v belov