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. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Authorship

Name Kulkarni, S.
Role species page author
Date 2010

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.

UASM230720 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

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

UASM230721 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Sooke Collected ByBall, K. E.; Ball, G. E. Date Collected1969-03-30

UASM230722 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Toronto Date Collected1921-05-13

UASM230723 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: Ontario, Toronto Date Collected1921-05-13

UASM230724 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Cattaraugus county, Hinsdale Collected ByAnderson, D. M. Date Collected1954-06-16

UASM230725 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Tompkins county, Wildflower Preserve Date Collected1952-05-16

UASM230726 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Tompkins county, Ithaca Collected ByBall, G. E. Date Collected1944-05

UASM230727 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Wayne county Collected ByBall, G. E. Date Collected1947-09-11

UASM230728 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Montana, Madison county, Nevada City Collected ByMcReynolds, D.; McReynolds, J. Date Collected1962-06-08

UASM230729 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Delaware, Sussex county, Rehoboth Beach Collected BySuenson, E. Date Collected1946-09-04

UASM230730 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Delaware, Sussex county, Rehoboth Beach Collected BySuenson, E. Date Collected1946-09-04

UASM230731 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: Delaware, Sussex county, Rehoboth Beach Collected BySuenson, E. Date Collected1946-09-04

UASM230732 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Suffolk county, Fire Island Collected ByValentine, B. D. Date Collected1941-06-28

UASM230733 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Suffolk county, Fire Island Collected ByValentine, B. D. Date Collected1941-07-11

UASM230734 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Suffolk county, Riverhead Collected ByKirk, V. M. Date Collected1950-04-27

UASM230735 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New Jersey, Warren county, Delaware Water Gap Collected ByWhitehead, D. R. Date Collected1963-05-31

UASM230736 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedUnited States: New York, Tompkins county, Ithaca Collected ByBall, G. E. Date Collected1954-04-22

UASM230737 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Terrace Collected ByBall, G. E. Date Collected1958-06-10

UASM230738 - Amara familiaris

University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum

Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Cassidy Collected ByBall, G. E. Date Collected1958-05-28

Adult Seasonal Distribution