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Ocypus brunnipes (Fabricius 1781)
 

Figure 3.6.2 Ocypus nitens (Schrank), palpi. 3.6.3 O. nitens, ventral view of abdomen. 5.1.1 O. brunnipes (Fab.), dorsal habitus.

 
 

Ocypus brunnipes can be easily recognized by its all black body and dull orange legs (Fig. 5.1.1). The only similar species is Dinothenarus badipes (LeConte), from which it can be distinguished by the lack of golden setae at the bases of the abdominal segments (Fig. 3.6.3), and by its rectangular apical maxillary palpomere (Fig. 3.6.2).

 
 

This species is native to Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, and Turkey (Herman 2001) and has been accidentally introduced into North America, where it is so far recorded only from New Hampshire and Massachusetts (newly reported) (Map 7).

UNITED STATES: MA: Essex Co., Ipswitch, 42.68 -70.85, 26-VII-1973, L.L. Pechuman, 1 (CUIC).

Both North American collections of O. brunnipes have been in late summer.

 
   
 

This non-native species was first recorded from North America by Newton (1987), based on a single collection of one male and one female from New Hampshire in 1966. In 1973 this species was collected again (1 male) but this time from Massachusetts. Ocypus brunnipes may be established in New England at very low densities. This species is flightless and inhabits both forested and open, disturbed areas in its native Palearctic range (Deichsel 2006).

 
 
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