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Species Details

Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »

IdentificationIt is a small species with adults measuring from 5.6 to 7.2 mm. Legs dark or dark black in colouration with greenish or bluish glossy upper surface. Antennae have segments 1 - 3 with base of at least 4. Eyes flat, prothorax with angular protruding front angles and shallow basal foveae which are surrounded by a group of punctulae. Elytral striations apically deepened. Male copulatory organ (penis) straight and slightly bent and possesses lateral lobes (parameres) (Lindroth, 1968).

Scientific Name Amara familiaris Habitat Open grounds with weedy vegetation. Greater abundance in habitats with weeds such as Stellaria media and Polygonum aviculare (Lindroth, 1968). Identification
It is a small species with adults measuring from 5.6 to 7.2 mm. Legs dark or dark black in colouration with greenish or bluish glossy upper surface. Antennae have segments 1 - 3 with base of at least 4. Eyes flat,…
It is a small species with adults measuring from 5.6 to 7.2 mm. Legs dark or dark black in colouration with greenish or bluish glossy upper surface. Antennae have segments 1 - 3 with base of at least 4. Eyes flat, prothorax with angular protruding front angles and shallow basal foveae which are surrounded by a group of punctulae. Elytral striations apically deepened. Male copulatory organ (penis) straight and slightly bent and possesses lateral lobes (parameres) (Lindroth, 1968).
Life History
Adults overwinter in soil and emerge in spring and become sexually active. Their emergence is followed by dispersal and colonization of weedy areas and abandoned fields with profuse weed growth. Larval stage has three…
Adults overwinter in soil and emerge in spring and become sexually active. Their emergence is followed by dispersal and colonization of weedy areas and abandoned fields with profuse weed growth. Larval stage has three instars which feed on weed seeds. Larvae are active from April to mid-June. Third larval instar undergoes pupation in the upper surface of soil. First generation adults further overwinter to emerge in spring (Saska and Honek, 2008).
Conservation
No specific information available on conservation of this species in Canada. Other reports suggest conservation of semi-natural grasslands and gaps on forest exteriors has positive effects on this species (Taboada et…
No specific information available on conservation of this species in Canada. Other reports suggest conservation of semi-natural grasslands and gaps on forest exteriors has positive effects on this species (Taboada et al., 2010).
Diet Info
This species is a specialist seed feeder and larvae feed extensively on the seeds of common chickweed, Stellaria media (Klimes and Saska, 2010). However, adults also feed on unripe seeds of hickweed (Cerastium sp.)…
This species is a specialist seed feeder and larvae feed extensively on the seeds of common chickweed, Stellaria media (Klimes and Saska, 2010). However, adults also feed on unripe seeds of hickweed (Cerastium sp.) and grass seeds (Lundgren, 2009). Female fecundity is dependent on seed feeding and they do not reproduce until they have fed on the seeds of S. media (Saska, 2008).
Range
Amara familiaris is introduced species in North America. This species has Palaearctic distribution and occurs mainly in Eurasia and Siberia. In Canada, it is recorded from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland,…
Amara familiaris is introduced species in North America. This species has Palaearctic distribution and occurs mainly in Eurasia and Siberia. In Canada, it is recorded from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta (Lindroth, 1968, CBIF, 2010).

Citation

Page Citation for Amara familiaris

Page Citation

"Species Details - Amara familiaris, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-21780/9-78499. Accessed 08 Nov. 2024.

References

Specimen Information

There are 61 specimens of this Species.

61 results plotted on map in 23 markers.
Note: Only records with latitude and longitude coordinates are plotted on map.

UASM69912 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-05-30

UASM69913 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-05-30

UASM69914 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-30

UASM69915 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-06-13

UASM69916 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-06-15

UASM69917 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-06-15

UASM69918 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM69919 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM69920 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM69921 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM69922 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Morinville Date Collected1984-07-11

UASM69923 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Wabamun Lake Collected ByKenakin, L. M. Date Collected1964-05-17

UASM230711 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Summerland Collected ByLewin, V. Date Collected1963-05-28

UASM230712 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Summerland Collected ByLewin, V. Date Collected1963-05-28

UASM230713 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Summerland Collected ByLewin, V. Date Collected1963-05-28

UASM230714 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Summerland Collected ByLewin, V. Date Collected1963-05-28

UASM230715 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Summerland Collected ByLewin, V. Date Collected1963-05-28

UASM230716 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Maryland, Baltimore county, Lutherville Collected ByHowden Date Collected1968-04-19

UASM230717 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Beacon Hill Collected ByBaker, G. Date Collected1977-06

UASM230718 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Goat River Collected ByAskevold, I. Date Collected1981-05-08

UASM230719 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Goat River Collected ByAskevold, I. Date Collected1981-05-29

Adult Seasonal Distribution