Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
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%.