P a c i f i c I n s e c t s M o n o g r a p h 2 3 : 234
S e p t e m b e r 1970
COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE OF SOUTH GEORGIA*
By P. J. D a r l i n g t o n , Jr. 2
Abstract:
Georgia.
A single species of Carabidae—Merizodus soledadinus (Guer.-Men.) is reported from South
Merizodus soledadinus (Guerin-Meneville)
Trechus soledadinus G-Men. 1832, Voyage Coquille, Ent. 2: 60.
Merizodus soledadinus: Jeannel, 1962, Biologie de I'Amerique Australe 1, Etudes sur Ia Faune du Sol, p. 607
(see for additional references, synonymy, and description).
S O U T H G E O R G I A : 7 spns., Grytviken Pen., Shackleton's Cross, 27.XI.1963, from tussock
grass, sea level to 150 m , " h a n d collected", H a r r y B. Clagg (BISHOP; 2 spns n o w in M . C. Z.). Sent
w i t h these specimens was a penciled label, " C u m b e r l a n d East Bay # 1 , 27-Nov. 1963, bottom layer:
S G - 7 5 : found u n d e r rotting p a p e r sack among tussock grass, elev. 50 ft."
Notes. T h e type locality of soledadinus is Soledad Bay, Falkland Is. This species has been found
repeatedly on the Falklands a n d at several localities near the southern tip of South America, including Tierra del Fuego (Jeannel) a n d the mainland north at least to about 52 ° S at Rio Rubens (collected by Darlington), a n d J e a n n e l states that this species has been introduced on Kerguelen. I have
c o m p a r e d the South Georgia specimens with specimens from the Falklands a n d the southern tip of
South America, a n d find no noteworthy differences. T h e species varies (as J e a n n e l notes), b u t the
variation seems to be mainly individual.
Results of fieldwork supported by grants (G-23720, GA-166) to Bishop Museum from the Office of
Antarctic Programs, U. S. National Science Foundation.
2
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass 02138.