318. Greater Night-stalking Tiger Beetle

(photos: A. Teucher)

 As the common English name suggests, this tiger beetle is nocturnal, coming out to stalk it's prey during the night and occasionally on cloudy days. It is a flightless hulk of a beast with massive mandibles and the distinction of being the largest of the genus Omus. Omus, by the way, according to BugGuide is "probably from Greek omos (ωμος) 'fierce, cruel'." Nice eh? The shallow dimples on the elytra and the broad "shoulders" are distinctive. 

Omus dejeani ranges from northern California to the south west corner of B.C., to the lower slopes of the Cascades and southern Vancouver Island. They are found on the temperate rain forest floor and the adjacent grasslands and occasionally the upper levels of beaches under driftwood. The larval burrows are in vertical clay banks.  

The only other Omus that is found in B.C. is Omus audouini, Audouin's Night-stalking Tiger Beetle. O. audouini has only been found in a few very low elevation locations despite much searching. It is listed Threatened federally.