Coleoptera1800 species

Family Ground Beetles (Carabidae)

Carabidae is a family in the order Coleoptera. Browse 1,800 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Guides

Bombardier Beetle Guide

Species in Carabidae (1,800)

Calathus ingratus

Calathus ingratus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Calathus melanocephalus

Length about 6 to 8 mm. It is usually black with a bright red thorax and pale legs. This ground beetle is usually found where there is bare, sandy soil. It lives during the day under stones and amongst leaf litter, coming out to hunt for small invert

Calathus rotundicollis

Length 8 to 11.5mm. It can be identified by the reddish edges of the pronotum. Found under logs and stones, even in well wooded areas. Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Calleida decora

Identification: Eyes large and prominent - key to separate the similarly colored C. punctata and C. decora

Calleida punctata

Identification: Eyes small - key to separate the similarly colored C. punctata and C. decora

Calleida punctulata

Identification: A species account written in English is available under the junior synonym Callida rugicollis G.H. Horn, 1894: page 361 . Members of genus Calleida typically have elongated pronota and without such widely reflexed lateral margins as s

Calleida viridipennis

Identification: bright bluish-green, elytra can be purple, sometimes margined with copper; antennae piceous , except for antennomeres 1-3 and part of 4; venter piceous occasionally comes to lights

Calodromius spilotus

Calodromius spilotus is a small species, measuring around 3.5 to 4.5 mm long. It has a rather flat body shape and black head , the pronotum is reddish-brown, the elytra dark brown with two pale markings on each. Please provide a photograph and an ind

Calosoma aurocinctum

First recorded in the US by Townsend (1902) from specimens collected near Brownsville.

Narrow Searcher

Calosoma externum

Identification: Very large, black with margins of elytra and pronotum brilliant blue. Elytra with evenly-spaced rows of punctured grooves (striae) and a few large punctures (foveae). Pronotum rounded, not flared out on the apical (head) end. Resemble

Calosoma macrum

Identification: remarkable for the almost entire absence of the usual striae and foveae: the tibia are straight in both sexes. The elytra of the male are not wider than the thorax; those of the female are about one third wider. Det. J. C. Abbott, 199

Calosoma marginale

Identification: elytra with a few scattered coarse punctures toward base Det. E. G. Riley, 2009 Type Locality: Arizona?

Calosoma obsoletum

Calosoma obsoletum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily of Carabinae. It was described by Say in 1823.

Calosoma protractum

Calosoma macrum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852. The species is 22–29 millimetres (0.87–1.14 in) long, black, and lives at an elevation of 1,100 to 1,700 metres (3,600 to 5,6

Caterpillar Searcher

Calosoma sycophanta

Introduced in 1905 to control spongy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) and Euproctis chrysorrhoea

Calosoma tepidum

Calosoma tepidum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Carabinae. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851.

Calosoma wilcoxi

Identification: In general, smaller and duller than the similar Calosoma scrutator . See images and comments:

Calosoma wilkesii 0

Calosoma wilkesii

Identification: Species page dorsal habitus: form A · form B

Carabus auratus

a member of the subgenus Tachypus Weber (4 spp. in Europe, one ranging into Siberia)

Carabus chamissonis

Carabus chamissonis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in tundra regions across northern Canada and Alaska, as well as isolated populations on Mount Washington, New Hampshire and Katahdin in Maine. This is a species of

Carabus finitimus

14 spmns in the UTIC ( 4 ) from the Brackenridge Field Laboratory (BFL), UT, Austin, Travis County, Texas from Nov. 1968 to April 1969.

Carabus granulatus

A large (16-23mm) granulate bronze, green or black predatory beetle. Wet fields, river margins, lakeshores and light woodland. Widespread in much of Britain but never really common.

Necklace Ground Beetle

Carabus monilis

A large beetle (22 to 26mm). Body entirely metallic green or coppery. The elytral sculpture is suggestive of strings of beads, and this gives rise to the common name of Necklace Ground Beetle. Good quality photograph(s) required to support your recor

Carabus problematicus

Up to 30mm. This species has ridges and dimples on its elytra and also has a pronotum that is barely transverse and with contracted sides. C. violaceus has smoother elytra that are more elongate and also has a more transverse pronotum. Although predo

Carabus truncaticollis

our only representative of the subgenus Aulonocarabus Reitter (13 spp. in Asia, of which one ranges into n. NA)

Carabus vinctus

Identification: Large, black, and slightly bronzed. Each elytron has "four ridges broken into elongate tubercles" . Blatchley gives the following description: Appears, like many carabids, to have potent chemical defenses (Frost, 1910):

Violet Ground Beetle

Carabus violaceus

One of the largest species in the UK, measuring about 20-30mm in length. It is similar to Carabus problematicus but the elytra of Carabus violaceus are smoother with fewer dimples and ridges. Often found by day under logs and stones. Most of the year

Chlaenius amoenus

Chlaenius is a large and diverse genus of ground beetle. It is native to the Palearctic realm (including Europe, the Near East, and North Africa), Afrotropical realm, and Nearctic realm. Worldwide, roughly 1,000 species are currently recognized with

Chlaenius caurinus 0

Chlaenius caurinus

Chlaenius is a large and diverse genus of ground beetle. It is native to the Palearctic (including Europe), the Near East, North Africa, Afrotropical region, and the Nearctic. Worldwide, roughly 1,000 species are currently recognized with the majorit

Chlaenius circumcinctus

the only member of the circumcinctus group in our fauna

Chlaenius cordicollis

Identification: Third antennal segment distinctly longer than fourth; abdominal sclerties more or less glabrous at middle, densely punctate laterally; elytral margin curved evenly onto basal margin (no angle); pronotal disk with impunctate areas; ely

Chlaenius cumatilis

a member of the cursor group, represented in our fauna also by Ch. chaudoiri, Ch. patruelis, & Ch. sparsus )

Chlaenius emarginatus

Identification: Distinguished by large body size and long mandibles compared to other similar-looking congeners

Chlaenius flaccidus

Type: One specimen female, collected by Belfrage, in Waco County, Texas. (Waco is in McLennan County.)

Chlaenius harpalinus

Chlaenius impunctifrons

Identification: pale legs Det. Peter W. Messer, 2009 the only member of the impunctifrons group in our fauna

Chlaenius laticollis

Identification: Among other differences, pronotum is duller dark bluish compared to that of bright metallic green in C. sericeus

Chlaenius nebraskensis

Say's Ground Beetle

Chlaenius pennsylvanicus

Chlaenius purpuricollis

Identification: adult habitus This relatively small chlaeniine had been rarely collected until pitfall trapping showed that it is common in alvars, which are flat, relatively open grassy areas with shallow or sporadic soil cover over calcareous bedro

Chlaenius pusillus

Identification: Small compared to most congeners, plus long jaws

Chlaenius ruficauda

Chlaenius texanus

Type locality: Brownsville, Cameron Co., TX quite common in Brazos Co., TX. =v=

Chlaenius tomentosus

Identification: browner than most Chlaenius spp., and the pronotum wider than most Chlaenius spp. Det. M. A. Quinn, 2015

Chlaenius vafer

Chlaenius vafer is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Chlaenius vestitus

Length 8.5 to 11mm. A metallic green beetle with orangey-yellow patches at the ends of the elytra. Usually found in marshes, reedbeds and on the edges of ponds and lakes. Widespread and fairly frequent in the southern half of Britain No additional im

Chlaenius viduus

Identification: Orange femora & black tibiae & tarsi

Appalachian Tiger Beetle

Cicindela ancocisconensis

Cicindela ancocisconensis, known generally as the Appalachian tiger beetle or boulder beach tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Pacific Coast Tiger Beetle

Cicindela bellissima

Identification: “Above brown with coppery reflections. The maculations are heavy, but are separated into three distinct lines. The middle line has a curved bend toward the rear, but lacks the sharp “elbow” of other species.”

Green Tiger Beetle

Cicindela campestris

A large (15 mm) tiger beetle that is iridescent green with yellow markings. It is usually found in areas with bare ground or sparse vegetation such as gravelly or sandy hillsides and sandy heath. April to September. Adults are active in early summer

Laurentian Tiger Beetle

Cicindela denikei

Cicindela togata, Laurentian tiger beetle is a species of tiger beetle in the Cicindelinae subfamily that can be found in Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario. The species have green coloured elytron and is 13–15 millimetres (0.51–0.59 in) long. It can b

Twelve-spotted Tiger Beetle

Cicindela duodecimguttata

Identification: The usual bands are often broken into spots - 12 spots on some individuals. On other individuals, the bands may be more intact and there will be fewer than 12 spots or marks. The shoulder marking (humeral lunule), whether entire or br

Big Sand Tiger Beetle

Cicindela formosa

Identification: C. f. formosa : elytra reddish/purple ▪ C. f. generosa : elytra dark brown to black ▪ C. f. pigmentosignata

Western Beach Tiger Beetle

Cicindela latesignata

Cicindela latesignata is a ground beetle in the genus Cicindela ("common tiger beetles"), in the subfamily Cicindelinae ("tiger beetles"). Common names are "western beach tiger beetle" and "angel's tear". The distribution range of Cicindela latesigna

Common Claybank Tiger Beetle

Cicindela limbalis

Identification: color of dorsal surface varies greatly, from brick red to metallic red to reddish-purple to reddish-green, and rarely dull green or brown; elytral markings highly variable: (humeral lunule complete, broken, or rarely absent; middle ba

Autumn Tiger Beetle

Cicindela nigrior

Elias S.A. (2014) A brief history of the changing occupations and demographics of coleopterists from the 18th through the 20th century. J Hist Biol 47: 213–242 ( Full text )

Ohlone Tiger Beetle

Cicindela ohlone

Federally listed endangered species. For details (including some interesting natural history) see this PDF from the US Fish & Wildlife Service's website. The Ohlone Tiger Beetle was discovered and named by the late Randy Morgan ...naturalist extraor

Sagebrush Tiger Beetle

Cicindela pugetana

Cicindela pugetana, the sagebrush tiger beetle, is a species of flashy tiger beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Beautiful Tiger Beetle

Cicindela pulchra

Identification: Most are metallic purple, but can be deep dull purple also. Maculation in Colorado can vary from a well defined middle band to no maculation at all. In Arizona/southern New Mexico the maculation is greatly expanded; these populations

Cow Path Tiger Beetle

Cicindela purpurea

Identification: Purple, greenish-purple, or green. Shoulder marking absent; middle marking does not reach outside edge of elytron; apical marking short. The middle marking is curved, but not sharply elbowed as it is in C. limbalis . Unfortunately, so

Bronzed Tiger Beetle

Cicindela repanda

Identification: Labrum small with one tooth; pronotum coppery and hairy. Shoulder marking (humeral lunule) touches or nearly touches the middle band.

Colorado Dune Tiger Beetle

Cicindela theatina

Cicindela theatina, commonly known as the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, is a predatory beetle found in sparsely vegetated sandy habitats. The species' range encompasses only about 290 square kilometres (110 sq mi) in the Great Sand Dunes park in Col

Eastern Pinebarrens Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia abdominalis

Identification: Tiny. Shiny blackish with some blue above, whitish crescents at tip of elytra .

Wetsalts Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia hemorrhagica

Identification: Dorsal color dark coppery brown to dark brownish-black; underside of abdomen red; elytral maculations creamy white, many individuals have broad and complete markings, some are intermediate, and some are completely unmarked; lateral ma

Highlands Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia highlandensis

Identification: Distinguished from similar species - C. abdominalis (Eastern Pinebarrens Tiger Beetle), widely distributed throughout the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain, and C. scabrosa (Scabrous Tiger Beetle), confined to the Florida Peninsula and

Horn's Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia hornii

Usually quite ephemeral, out after rains but not too long. They also come in blue and green forms, but probably mostly black in NM. (Comment by Dr. C. Barry Kinsley).

Melissa's Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia melissa

Identification: can be distinguished from all other similar Cicindelidia by its dark green-violet abdominal venter with the two apical segments dull orange or orange-brown, a brassy-cupreous head and pronotum with metallic blue reflections in sulci,

Large Grassland Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia obsoleta

Identification: “Above dark black, brown, green, and rarely dark blue with maculations that are absent in some populations, reduced to incomplete lines and dots in others, and thin but complete in others. If maculations are present, usually only the

Punctured Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia punctulata

Identification: slender, dark brownish-gray (in the east), with or without thin white markings; longitudinal row of pits on each elytron: in the southwest may be completely green, and have reduced maculae or none:

Eastern Red-bellied Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia rufiventris

Identification: abdomen under the elytra is bright red, especially towards the rear

Schaupp's Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia schauppii

Identification: Elytra dull bronze-brown to green with white maculations and green sub-sutural punctures. Extent of white markings can vary. Cicindela cazieri, C. politula are often found together with this species.

S-banded Tiger Beetle

Cicindelidia trifasciata

Identification: variably dark grayish-brown to light brown, sometimes with greenish tint; middle band curved in conspicuous S shape in well-marked specimens; lines tend to be thin and delicate in subspecies ascendens , and thicker/bolder in subspecie

Clivina acuducta

Identification: differs from C. americana by larger size (≥6 mm), longer antenna segments (not squarish), pronotal sides more rounded, and elytral striae more effaced toward apices. (R.Davidson, pers.comm. to PWM)

Clivina californica

Clivina californica is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Scaritinae. It was described by Vandyke in 1925.

Clivina collaris

Identification: adult habitus: live image | specimen head and pronotum black; elytra brownish-red earliest record in our area: MA, before 1838

Clivina fossor

Size 6 to 7 mm. This beetle is all dark brown with studded rows or lines running the length of its elytra. It has adaptations for a life underground. The tarsal segments on the front pair of legs are broadened for digging. This enables exploitation o

Slender Seedcorn Beetle

Clivina impressefrons

Identification: One clue that helps distinguish this species is its rather uniform brown color. In hand the pronotum appeared almost same color as elytra.

Clivina morio

Identification: From Bousquet : "The species can be distinguished from the other eastern North American species of Leucocara by its size and shorter metepisternum. The four specimens studied of C. morio range between 7.0 and 8.5 mm in size while the

Clivina pallida

Identification: Eye reduced, longitudinal length less than 1.5 times that of temple. Elytral striae wide with wavy edges, punctures at most suggested • neotype

Clivina planicollis

Identification: Clivina planicollis is distinguished from other Nearctic members of the fossor group by having antennal article II plurisetose rather than unisetose. (Whitehead, 1974) Det. Brad Barnd, 2024 (via spmn)

Clivina vespertina

Identification: " Clivina vespertina differs from C. dentipes by possessing an obtuse rather than an acute profemoral tooth; smaller size (hindbody under 4.0 mm in length); and distinct isodiametric microsculpture at the apex of each elytron (absent

Colliuris lioptera

Identification: Elytron black with one lateral reddish dot in posterior third. ─Peter Messer, 5.ix.2015

Colliuris pensylvanica

Colliuris pensylvanica (Colliuris pensylvanica) is a species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as ground beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Harpalinae, tribe Odacanthini, suborder Adephag

Coptodera aerata

Coptodera aerata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Snail Hunter

Cychrus caraboides

Length 14 to 19 mm. This beetle has a long thin head designed for getting inside snail shells to eat the flesh. It also has a pear-shaped body and is not likely to be confused with any other species. It is mainly found in woodland and other shaded ha

Cyclotrachelus convivus

According to Freitag (1969), this species can usually be separated from very similar C. sigillatus by their geographic distributions, i.e., west vs east of Appalachian Mountains. Comment by Peter W. Messer

Cyclotrachelus engelmani

Cyclotrachelus engelmani is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Cyclotrachelus iuvenis

Cyclotrachelus iuvenis (Cyclotrachelus iuvenis) is a species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as ground beetles, belonging to the order Coleoptera (Beetles). It is classified within the subfamily Harpalinae, tribe Pterostichini, suborder Adeph

Cyclotrachelus seximpressus

Cyclotrachelus seximpressus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Cyclotrachelus sodalis

member of the sodalis group (6 spp. in our area) ( 3 )

Cyclotrachelus substriatus

Identification: Note: This species separates from juxtapositional species in Freitag (1969) by the following combination: 1) So-called "umbilicate" punctures along anterolateral border of shoulder are not surrounded by prominent elevated ridges. 2) E

Cymindis borealis

Cymindis borealis is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae. It was described by LeConte in 1863.

Cymindis cf-evanescens

very thin elytral striae suggest C. evanescens but the latter has no AZ records according to (yet does occur in CA-UT)

Cymindis complanata

Identification: "ferruginous coloration throughout", characters of setae, and male/female genitalia Rare

Cymindis laticollis

Cymindis laticollis is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae. It was described by Say in 1830.

Cymindis limbata

Identification: Pale spot present on elytral humerus (lacking in the similar C. platicollis )

Cymindis platicollis

a typical element of e. N. Amer. temperate forest. Unlike most carabids inhabiting the temperate and boreal regions, this species lives above the surface of the ground in trees and is usually collected by beating branches. An arboreal way of life is

Cymindis punctifera

Pinacodera punctifera is a species in the beetle family Carabidae. It is found in the United States.

Cymindis vaporariorum

Cymindis vaporariorum is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Harpalinae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.Most adults collected in June and July, but likely are around all summer.

Demetrias atricapillus

Length: 4.5 to 5.5 mm. Black head, red/orange pronotum and straw-coloured elytra with a dark central stripe that broadens apically. The head is punctured and hairy behind the eyes. Other Demetrias species have more marked elytra. The bi-lobed tarsal