Three-ridged Snail-eating Beetle
Scaphinotus tricarinatus
This record describes Scaphinotus tricarinatus (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Scaphinotus tricarinatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.
Wikipedia reference for Scaphinotus tricarinatus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaphinotus tricarinatus.
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
TN, NC, SC. Great Balsam, Plott Balsam, Great Smoky, and Nantahala Mountains.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Scaphinotus tricarinatus (Casey, 1914)
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Scaphinotus tricarinatus. 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 Three-ridged Snail-eating Beetle (3)
Photo credits: (c) April Hicks, all rights reserved, uploaded by April Hicks | Contributed by Curt H.