Plants and Animals
Lordithon niger Black lordithon rove beetle
Key Characteristics
The black lordithon rove beetle is an elongated black beetle with a broad, convex body and a pointed abdomen often bordered by long hairs. Males have dialated front tarsi and a deeply divided terminal ventral segment. [This description is for the Tachyporinae Subfamily; please refer to a technical manual for complete description and positive identification.]
Status and Rank
US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: GU - Unrankable
State Rank: SH - Possibly extirpated
Occurrences
| County | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|
Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.
Habitat
The black lordithon rove beetle inhabits old growth northern hardwood or mixed coniferous forest below 2500 feet elevation. Though no recent records exist in Michigan for this species, potential habitat includes much of the northern lower and upper peninsulas.
Natural Community Types
For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.
Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.
Management Recommendations
Very little is known about this species, but maintaining large tracts of late successional or old growth forest habitat would likely prove beneficial.
Active Period
Active from first week of June to first week of October
Survey Methods
The ideal time to survey for this beetle is unknown, but the species is likely most active in summer. Pitfall and funnel traps have been successfully used to capture this beetle in other states.
Pitfall, funnel traps
Survey Period: From first week of June to first week of October
References
Survey References
- Borror, D.J. and R.E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects of North America and Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 404pp.
- Campbell, J.M. 1982. A revision of the genus Lordithon Thomson of North and Central America (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, No. 119.
- Martin, J.E.H. 1977. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada (Part 1): Collecting, preparing, and preserving insects, mites, and spiders. Publication 1643. Biosystematics Research Institute, Ottawa.
Technical References
- Campbell, J.M. 1982. A revision of the genus Lordithon Thomson of North and Central America (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, No. 119.
- NatureServe. 2005. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 4.5. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer