Plants and Animals

Liodessus cantralli Cantrall's bog beetle

Key Characteristics

Cantrall's bog beetle is an obscure, tiny (2 mm) brown, predacious aquatic diving beetle.

Status and Rank

US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: GNR - Not ranked
State Rank: SH - Possibly extirpated

Occurrences

CountyNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Livingston 1 1953

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

It is thought to inhabit small ponds to large marshes, sphagnum mats of fens, and undercut clay banks.

Specific Habitat Needs

Undercut banks needed in: Inland lake, littoral, benthic.

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 protection of sensitive wetland habitat is likely critical. Avoid hyrdologic and nutrient alterations to bogs, fens, small ponds, and marshes.

Active Period

Active from first week of April to fourth week of November

Survey Methods

Adults have been collected in early spring and late fall; no flight records are currently available. Baited bottle traps have been used successfully to survey for this species in Wisconsin, essentially using a 2 liter bottle with the top 1/2 cut off and inverted into the remaining bottle, forming a funnel into the base container.

Bottle traps

Survey Period: From first week of April to fourth week of May

Survey Period: From first week of October to fourth week of November

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.
  • Epstein, E., et al. 2002. Wolf River Basin Biotic Inventory and Analysis. Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program. Bureau of Endangered Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison.
  • 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

  • Epstein, E., et al. 2002. Wolf River Basin Biotic Inventory and Analysis. Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory Program. Bureau of Endangered Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison.
  • McCafferty, W. P. 1981. Aquatic Entomology: The fisherman's and ecologists' illustrated guide to insects and their relatives. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston. 448pp.
  • Merritt, R.W. and K.W. Cummins. 1996. An introduction to the aquatic insects of North America, 3rd ed. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque. 862pp.