Dyschirius (Dyschiriodes) sellatus
Geographic: NEA
Distribution: Native, New World. Canada – NB, NF, NS, PE, PQ; USA – FL, GA, IL, MO,
MN, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OK, PA, SD, TX.
Common name: Saddled Discolored Beetle
Synonym: Dyschirius sellatus LeConte, 1857:78
Macrohabitat: Lowlands to midlands, sea level – 598 meters altitude, on sea
beaches, saline banks of rivers and brooks, on shores of lakes, pools, and at margins of lagoons,
always close to water. Microhabitat: Adults are probably halobionic and are grounddwelling
on exposed, wet, sandy, saline or alkaline substrate, bare or almost so. Dispersal
abilities: Macropterous, capable of flight; slow runners, strong burrowers. Seasonal occurrence:
Adults have been found in March, and May – September; teneral adults in mid-July,
and August. Behavior: Adults are nocturnal, predaceous, and take cover during the day in
burrows they dig into the substrate; they are gregarious. Larvae travel under the substrate
surface making dendritic networks of ridges. Adults occasionally fly during the day. They are
attracted to lights at night. In NS, populations are associated with populations of Bledius basalis
LeC. Adults overwinter in the substrate.