Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle

Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle

Harpalus pensylvanicus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Minneapolis [Saint Paul]

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

5 Verified sightings at Minneapolis [Saint Paul]
September Best month

About the Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle

Harpalus pensylvanicus, the Pennsylvania ground beetle or Pennsylvania dingy ground beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae. It is found throughout North America. It was described by Degeer in 1774.

The adults of the species are shiny black on the top, reddish brown underneath, and the elytra have lines. The larvae are black with a reddish head and the body is tapered with two long cerci. The species' food includes the seeds of ragweed and assorted grasses. They are important weed seed predators. They prefer small seeds such as lamb's quarter and waterhemp seeds. They favor high hayfields opposed to low maize fields. The species occasionally damages ripening strawberries which is probably how it gets water. It is attracted to lights.

Harpalus pensylvanicus is a significant weed seed predator in agricultural fields. Its consumption of seeds is strongly influenced by water absorption, as the beetle consumes a greater mass of water-absorbed seeds than dry seeds. It can locate these seeds through smell, responding to the high release of carbon dioxide and ethylene that occurs during the initial stages of germination.

The beetle has... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Montreal 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
2 Philadelphia 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
3 Dallas 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Washington 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
6 Minneapolis [Saint Paul] 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
8 New York City 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Boston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
10 Los Angeles 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle in Minneapolis [Saint Paul]?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle sighting in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 603rd most-seen of the 672 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle in Minneapolis [Saint Paul]?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Is Minneapolis [Saint Paul] the best place to see a Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle?

Among the best

Of the 10 cities where we can rate Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle sightings, Minneapolis [Saint Paul] ranks 6th at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Montreal (Canada, under 5%), Philadelphia (United States, under 5%) and Dallas (United States, under 5%).

Where does the Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Pennsylvania Dingy Ground Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Minneapolis [Saint Paul] (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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