Re-collected after 55 years: a new species of Bembidion (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from California

A new species of the carabid beetle genus Bembidion Latreille is described from the Central Valley, Los Angeles Basin, and surrounding areas of California. Bembidion brownorum sp. nov. is a distinctive spe-cies, a relatively large member of the subgenus Notaphus Dejean, and within Notaphus a member of the B. obtusangulum LeConte species group. It has faint spots on the elytra and a large, convex, rounded prothorax. Of the 22 specimens from 11 localities, all but one were collected more than 55 years ago. Although the collection of the holotype in 2021 at UV light suggest the species is still extant, the lack of other recent specimens suggests the species may have a more restricted distribution than in the past, and its populations may be in decline.

Automated summary

A new species of the carabid beetle genus Bembidion Latreille, named Bembidion brownorum sp. nov., was discovered in the Central Valley, Los Angeles Basin, and surrounding areas of California. It belongs to the subgenus Notaphus Dejean, specifically the B. obtusangulum LeConte species group. Despite the collection of 22 specimens from 11 localities, with one specimen collected more than 55 years ago, there has been a lack of recent specimens. Although the holotype was collected in 2021 using UV light, indicating the species' existence, the absence of recent specimens suggests a potential decline in population and a more restricted distribution.