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Species Details
Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
SeasonalityLarvae have been collected in early August. Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid-May to mid-July.
IdentificationAdults: 10.5-14mm in length. Dorsal surface black and metallic though this can sometimes be faint. Pronotom often with a brassy or greenish hue laterally. Appendages black. Can be easily distinguished from all other Alberta species because all striae are broken at several points along their length; intervals are connected by convexities giving the elytral surface a transversely corrugated appearance; intervals 3, 5, 7, usually more convex. Setae behind pronotal shoulder are unicolorous, pale brown. Adapted from Bell 1960 and Lindroth 1963
Scientific Name
Chlaenius alternatus
Habitat
Have been collected on the borders of slow rivers with firm soil and vegetation consisting of Carex, Juncus, and Equisetum fluviatile. Others have been collected on lake shores among thick vegetation consisting of…
Have been collected on the borders of slow rivers with firm soil and vegetation consisting of Carex, Juncus, and Equisetum fluviatile. Others have been collected on lake shores among thick vegetation consisting of Naumburgia thyrsiflora, Triglochin palustre, Cicuta, Mentha, Carices, and a moss undercover of Drepanocladius aduncus.
Seasonality
Larvae have been collected in early August. Adults have been collected in Alberta from mid-May to mid-July.
Identification
Adults: 10.5-14mm in length. Dorsal surface black and metallic though this can sometimes be faint. Pronotom often with a brassy or greenish hue laterally. Appendages black. Can be easily distinguished from all other…
Adults: 10.5-14mm in length. Dorsal surface black and metallic though this can sometimes be faint. Pronotom often with a brassy or greenish hue laterally. Appendages black. Can be easily distinguished from all other Alberta species because all striae are broken at several points along their length; intervals are connected by convexities giving the elytral surface a transversely corrugated appearance; intervals 3, 5, 7, usually more convex. Setae behind pronotal shoulder are unicolorous, pale brown. Adapted from Bell 1960 and Lindroth 1963
Life History
Bell (1960) suggests that there is evidence that alternatus ranged far south of it's current distribution during the Ice Age as a species (C. plicatipannis) that is identical or closely related has been described from…
Bell (1960) suggests that there is evidence that alternatus ranged far south of it's current distribution during the Ice Age as a species (C. plicatipannis) that is identical or closely related has been described from the Sangamon Peat of central Illinois.
Conservation
Relatively common.
Diet Info
Predatory, omnivorous.
Range
The most boreal species of all North American Chlaenius. Known from scattered records across Canada and far south as the Montana. Has been recorded in Alberta from the Cypress Hills to as far north as Athabasca.
Citation
Page Citation for Chlaenius alternatus
Page Citation
"Species Details - Chlaenius alternatus, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-6304/9-81887. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
References
Author
Bousquet, Yves and Andre Larochelle
Title
Catalogue of the Geadephaga (Coleoptera: Trachypachidae, Rhysodidae, Carabidae Including Cicindelini) of America North of Mexico
Publication Date
1993
Series Title
Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada
Pages
1-397
Author
Bell, R. T.
Title
Revision of the genus Chlaenius Bonnelli (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in North America.
Publication Date
1960
Series Title
Miscellaneous Publications of the Entomological Society of America.
Volume
1
Pages
98-170
Author
Lindroth, Carl H.
Title
The Ground-beetles of Canada and Alaska. Part 6.
Publication Date
1969
Series Title
Opuscula Entomologica
Volume
34
Pages
945-1192
Specimen Information
There are 61 specimens of this Species.
UASM72882 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pincher Creek
Collected ByPohl, G. R.
Date Collected1989-06-07
UASM72883 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Pincher Creek
Collected ByPohl, G. R.
Date Collected1989-06-07
UASM72884 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Beaverhill Lake
Collected ByAskevold, I. S.
Date Collected1982-06-06
UASM72885 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nestow
Date Collected1967-05-21
UASM72886 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Gorge Creek
Collected ByGooding, R.; Wilkie, M.
Date Collected1970-06-24
UASM72887 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Elkwater Lake
Collected ByBall, G. E.
Date Collected1957-07-03
UASM72888 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Ministik Lake
Collected ByBall, G. E. & family
Date Collected1957-06-16
UASM72889 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Slave Lake
Collected ByBall, G. E.; Ball, K. E.
Date Collected1971-06-05
UASM72890 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Skeleton Lake
Collected ByBall, G. E. & family
Date Collected1964-05-30/1964-05-31
UASM72891 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nestow
Collected ByBall, G. E. & family
Date Collected1957-05-23
UASM72892 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Nestow
Collected ByBall, G. E. & family
Date Collected1957-05-23
UASM72893 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Cypress Hills
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1928-05-24
UASM72894 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Edmonton
Collected ByCarr, F. S.
Date Collected1919-06-05
UASM72895 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Fawcett
Collected ByAllen, R. T.; Ball, G. E.; Whitehead, D. R.
Date Collected1964-06-20
UASM72896 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Fawcett
Collected ByAllen, R. T.; Ball, G. E.; Whitehead, D. R.
Date Collected1964-06-20
UASM72897 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Fawcett
Collected ByAllen, R. T.; Ball, G. E.; Whitehead, D. R.
Date Collected1964-06-20
UASM72898 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Flatbush
Collected ByAllen, R. T.; Ball, G. E.; Whitehead, D. R.
Date Collected1964-06-21
UASM212087 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Lacombe
Collected ByHummel, J.; Montgomery, J.
Date Collected2006-06-20
UASM292117 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Cranbrook
Collected ByBall; Madge; McFadden
Date Collected1960-06-09
UASM292118 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Cranbrook
Collected ByBall; Madge; McFadden
Date Collected1960-06-09
UASM292119 - Chlaenius alternatus
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: British Columbia, Cranbrook
Collected ByBall; Madge; McFadden
Date Collected1960-06-09