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A NUMERICAL FACTOR FOR THE TAXONOMIC SEPARATION OF PTEROSTICHUS PENSYLVANICUS AND P. ADSTRICTUS (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

C. A. Barlow
Affiliation:
1Department of Biology and 2Department of Mathematics, Carleton University, Ottawa
S. Adisoemarto
Affiliation:
1Department of Biology and 2Department of Mathematics, Carleton University, Ottawa
J. E. Graham
Affiliation:
1Department of Biology and 2Department of Mathematics, Carleton University, Ottawa

Abstract

A discriminant function is derived which effectively distinguishes Pterostichus pensylvanicus Lec. from P. adstrictus Eschz. The function is Z = −0.0861X + 0.1657Y, where X = total length of the pronotum at the midline, and Y = distance from widest part of the pronotum to its base. If Z is equal to or less than a critical value, Z0 = 0.0607, the specimen is identified as pensylvanicus; if Z is greater than Z0, it is adstrictus. The rate of error of the function for 182 specimens tested was 2%.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1969

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References

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