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)

Lebia marginicollis

Identification: our only Lebia with the elytra metallic and the rest of the body dark except for pale pronotal margins

Lebia ornata

Identification: Elytra - Disc dark with pale markings (figs. 43-45) or entirely dark ( 3 ) , edges of pale basal elytral spots are generally smooth, not jagged as in fuscata - typical; - southern pale form (note lateral scapular vitta) and dark forms

Lebia pectita

Identification: The pale head and black-tipped femora separate L. pectita from all eastern spp. except L. vittata ; the non-furcate, black, sutural vitta and the incomplete basal ridge of the elytra of pectita distinguish these two Det. Peter W. Mess

Lebia perpallida 0

Lebia perpallida

Identification: Fig. 41. Lebia perpallida Type Locality: Pena Blanca (4000’), Santa Cruz Co., Arizona

Lebia pulchella

Identification: - eastern forms - Arizona forms the only member of pulchella group in our fauna

Lebia pumila

Identification: Overall dark, with antennomere 3 usually pale; legs pale or dark (the latter resemble the non-metallic form of L. viridis ) the only member of the pumila group in our fauna

Lebia scalpta

Identification: Elytra - Disc dark with pale markings, either patterned as in fig. 26 or lateral vitta reduced and pattern approaching that of analis (fig. 25). - Det. T.L. Erwin, 2010 Fig. 26. Lebia scalpta , Texas form the only member of scalpta gr

Lebia solea

Identification: elytral pattern variable; readily distinguished from the rest of our Lebia by the combination of strongly constricted neck, basally widened pronotal margins, and frons striated only on lateral thirds

Lebia subdola

Type Locality: Madera Cn, Sta. Rita Mts., Sta. Cruz Co., Ariz. VIII 3, 60, 5000' - 5800', G. E. Ball family and R. B. Madge collectors.

Lebia subrugosa

Identification: The head and pronotum are usually pale [reddish] but are infuscated [brownish] in some specimens. can usually be distinguished from the other pale sw.US species by the lateral dark vitta on the elytra; specimens with this vitta reduce

Lebia tricolor

Identification: Palpi and antennae pale , there appears to be no marked variation in tricolor .

Lebia tuckeri

Identification: very similar to rufopleura [restricted to TX]; among Lebia s.str. spp. occurring in sw. US from w. TX to so. CA only tuckeri and arizonica have metallic green elytra and a pale head and pronotum: in tuckeri the metepisternum is usuall

Lebia variegata

Identification: Det. T.L. Erwin, 2011 (from photo) This new US record has not been corroborated by a spmn.

Lebia viridis

Lebia viridis (Lebia viridis) 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 Lebiini, suborder Adephaga. This species belong

Lebia vittata

Identification: The vittate elytra, pale head, and femora dark at least apically, distinguish L. vittata from NA congeners except L. pectita in which the sutural vitta is not forked basally and elytral basal ridge incomplete

Leistus ferrugineus

About 8 mm long, this small colourful beetle is reddish brown or pale brown all over, with legs a shade paler than the body; it becomes darker coloured with age. It has a very rounded pronotum which is sharply sinuate to the rear corners, which have

Leistus fulvibarbis

Small (6.5 to 8 mm) dark ground beetle usually with blue metallic elytral reflections in certain light, and may look very bluish. It has reddish-yellow legs and a specialised basket around its mouth for trapping springtail prey. Very similar to L. sp

Leistus rufomarginatus

Length 8 to 10 mm. This is a distinctive blue-black or reddish-black species, with the legs, antennae and palps all being reddish brown and with a broad flange on the edge of the pronotum of the same colour. Under logs and stones, often in well woode

Leistus spinibarbis

8 - 10mm. A handsome ground beetle, with dark blue elytra, though the shade can vary in different light conditions. Very similar to L. fulvibarbis and best separated by the pronotum characters. In L. spinibarbis the flattened and punctured side margi

Leistus terminatus

About 8mm long it is a reddish brown beetle with a black head but darker, brown forms also occur. Similar to L. ferrugineus , except this species has a dark head and also a dark end to the elytra. Found primarily in damp places in woodland, damp gras

Leptotrachelus dorsalis

Identification: - - occasionally all dark Det. Jan Ciegler, 2012 comes to lights (BG data)

Limodromus assimilis

This all black beetle is 9-12mm and has dark brown legs and antennae, though the femora and antennal bases are black. It has a sinuate pronotum with sharp and raised hind angles. Various habitats in search of prey, but tends to favour damper location

Lophoglossus gravis

Identification: Pronotum is distinctive for the genus

Lophoglossus vernix

Will 1999 considered the species the rarest in the genus, and possibly extirpated from previous sites due to habitat destruction.

Loricera foveata

Identification: "The only nearctic species with pale legs and with 2nd, 4th, and 7th elytral intervals each with 3 foveae." ( comment by Tim Loh ) Type at MCZ .

Loricera pilicornis

A small (6 to 8.5 mm) brassy-brown or bronze-black ground beetle, this species has cup like depressions (foveate punctures) on the wing cases with conspicuous long bristles (setae) at the bases to its antennae as well as bristles on the underside of

Metrius contractus

Identification: This species has a coastal distribution while the other species, M. explodens , is only known from Idaho. ( 3 ) Three subspecies recognized. ( 3 ) Secretes defensive chemicals (quinone-based and hot, like bombardier beetles) as a frot

Micratopus aenescens

Identification: Holotype adults best collected by sifting forest floor litter ; fairly common at lights in TX

Mioptachys flavicauda

Identification: posterior half of elytra, lateral margins of pronotum, legs, antennae, and mouthparts yellowish; remainder of body dark brown

Miscodera arctica

Identification: Pedunculate body; overall metallic and shiny.

Morion monilicornis

Morion monilicornis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Myas cyanescens

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

Nebria bellorum

Identification: Superficially similar to N. pallipes but can be easily distinguished by the uniformly dark head lacking rufous spots on the frons and the pronotum possessing midlateral setae Previously treated as a subspecies of N. lacustris ; raised

Nebria brevicollis

This is a large ground beetle (10-14mm) with a broad pronotum. It is black or dark brown but with mid-brown legs and antennae, though the femora are usually darker brown. It is very similar to N. salina which prefers damper habitats. Nebria brevicoll

Lacustrine Gazelle Beetle

Nebria lacustris

Nebria lacustris, also known as the lacustrine gazelle beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the Nebriinae subfamily that can be found in southern Canada and in the US states such as Tennessee and Wisconsin. One of such species was found in Great

Nebria nivalis

Nebria nivalis is a ground beetle in the subfamily Nebriinae. It is found mainly in Scandinavia and northern Russia; it is rare in the British Isles, where it occurs at isolated upland locations in North Wales, northern England, Scotland and the west

Nebria praedicta

Identification: see https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/63533781#page/79/mode/1up

Nebria salina

Moderately large (10-14 mm) dark brown or blackish ground beetle. The antennae and legs are a paler red/brown, though the femora are usually dark. Nebria brevicollis and N. salina are indistinguishable without examining the beetles under a microscope

Nemotarsus elegans

Identification: Similar to Lebia , distinguished by tibial spurs, etc. Body, legs, antennae dull yellow-brown; elytra dark with a large pale spot

Nemotarsus rhombifer

Texas considers this a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) ( 4 ) ; fairly common at lights and in Lindgren funnel traps at Laguna Atascosa NWR ( 5 )

Stink Beetle

Nomius pygmaeus

occasionally invades homes in w. US and Canada; can produce an offensive odor retained by clothing for several weeks

Notiobia maculicornis

Notiobia maculicornis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Notiobia mexicana

Identification: A southwestern species with distinctive pronotum (lateral margins sinuate and strongly beaded before dentate hind angles) and elytra with supposedly a hint of purplish shade

Notiobia terminata

Notiobia terminata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Notiophilus aeneus

Identification: Elytra with two preapical setigerous punctures, antennae and legs pale reddish, pronotum markedly constricted basally.

Notiophilus aquaticus

Identification: Elytra with single preapical setigerous puncture; legs dark/black; apex of elytra with little pronounced, ± irregular microreticulation; intervals behind shoulder without or with only suggested microsculpture Quite similar in the abov

Notiophilus biguttatus

The Notiophilus beetles are very distinctive with prominent eyes. There are eight species in Britain, all very similar but often in different habitats. N. biguttatus usually has pale apical spots or patches on the apical ends of the elytra, though th

Notiophilus borealis

Notiophilus borealis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China) and North America.

Notiophilus novemstriatus

Identification: Smallest of our Notiophilus species. Elytra with two preapical setigerous punctures; legs and antennae not entirely pale; elytral intervals smooth, shiny on basal 1/2; striae 2-3 obliterated before apex; elytra without distinct pale a

Notiophilus palustris

Length 5 to 6 mm. Very shiny black, lacking a paler patch at the tips of the elytra and with brown hind tibiae. Eyes very large, head wider than pronotum. Elytral interval 2 is no wider than 3, 4 and 5 combined. There are two pores at each of the ely

Notiophilus rufipes

5.5 to 6.5 mm. Ranging from coppery bronze to almost black with studded elytra and the 2nd elytral interval as wide as the next three combined. The antennae are black with four basal segments yellow and the head and eyes are very large, even for Noti

Notiophilus substriatus

A small (5 mm) beetle with large bulging eyes and brassy brown studded elytra. Distinguished from N. biguttatus by the finer elytral pores. It usually prefers open ground with short, sparse vegetation and is often recorded from urban areas and fairly

Ocys harpaloides/tachysoides

Ocys harpaloides / tachysoides

Beetles previously thought to be Ocys harpaloides have recently been shown to comprise two species , the other being Ocys tachysoides , but they can only be separated by examination of the genitalia or DNA analysis. If you are unable to separate the

American Round Sand Beetle

Omophron americanum

Identification: color pattern variable; 15-striate elytron, V-shaped pale area on the frons, punctate metasternum and two setae on the mesocoxa make it easy to distinguish ( 3 ) the most common and widespread Omophron in NA ( 6 )

Toothed Round Sand Beetle

Omophron dentatum

Identification: Pronotum with an irregular transverse band, pale area on front weakly M-shaped dorsal habitus photos: Erwin | Brett

Gila River Round Sand Beetle

Omophron gilae

Omophron gilae, the Gila River round sand beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in Central America and North America (Sonora, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah), where it may be found at the m

Shiny Round Sand Beetle

Omophron nitidum

Nocturnal; adults take cover during the day in burrows dug in the ground, or in leaf litter. Adults are gregarious; often come to lights. ( 3 )

Effaced Round Sand Beetle

Omophron obliteratum

Identification: "V" shaped pale spot on head, 14 elytral striae

Mosaic Round Sand Beetle

Omophron tessellatum

Omophron tessellatum, the mosaic round sand beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America.

Onota angulicollis

Onota angulicollis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in Central America, North America, and South America.

Ophonus ardosiacus

Length 10 to 14 mm. A rather variable species - the elytra may vary from a bright dark blue to almost black. The legs are usually brown. Usually found on disturbed ground or post industrial sites often under stones. All year round, but most likely to

Ophonus puncticeps

A 6.5 to 9 mm long, brownish black, seed eating ground beetle. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is required and the specimen should be examined with a microscope. In the comments box, state the key or ID method used and describe the

Ophonus rufibarbis

This medium sized beetle (7-9mm) has a dark brown body and pale legs and antennae. The pronotum is strongly sinuate with sharp points at the hind angles. Found in sparsely vegetated habitats on all soil types.

Lime-headed Tiger Beetle

Opilidia chlorocephala

Identification: Distinctive, hind legs are extremely long in both sexes

Oxycrepis celeris

Identification: Loxandrus celer is one of the very few N. American species that can be accurately identified using only external characters. The following combination is distinctive: 1. last tarsomere setose ventrally 2. sides of pronotum not sinuate

Oxycrepis parvula

Identification: Like nearly all Oxycrepis , identifiable only by examination of male genitalia. The median lobe of the aedeagus has a unique apex that is abruptly hooked dorsally.

Oxycrepis pravituba 0

Oxycrepis pravituba

Type Locality: Brownsville, Texas, June 11-16, 1933. Darlington, Collector apparently not treated in ( 5 )

Oxycrepis rectangula

Identification: Strong microsculpture present dorsally on forebody, shape of pronotum distinctive. Type Locality: Enterprise, Volusia Co., FL rare

Oxycrepis sculptilis

Identification: a relatively rare Texas species distinguished from other Oxycrepis by dull elytra (m/s isodiametric), pair of mentum pits, and small body size. … Peter W. Messer, 22 March, 2021

Oxypselaphus obscurus

Length 6.5 mm. This is small, brown ground beetle has a dark/black head and pale appendages. The elongate and highly sinuate pronotum, heavily punctured at the base, together with the pale legs helps to make this species 9the only UK species in the g

Crucifix Ground Beetle

Panagaeus cruxmajor

A largely black and rather bristly beetle, it is 8 to10 mm in length, with large red spots on its wing cases which give the appearance of a red background behind a black cross. Panagaeus bipustulatus is a commoner relative, looking very much alike ex

Panagaeus fasciatus

Identification: head and pronotum not black Adults are taken most frequently at light sources

Greater Tail-light Carabid

Paraclivina bipustulata

Identification: Adult: head and pronotum dark brown to blackish; elytra striated and punctate, dark brown to blackish with dull dark reddish area at base, and two large spots of same color near apex; front tarsi flattened and bearing several claw-lik

Paraclivina convexa

Identification: Protibia with anterior spur bent at near 90°

Paraclivina sulcipennis

Identification: Pronotum impunctate, elytra dark, small size • description

Paradromius linearis

Length 4.5 to 6 mm. This is a long, slim, reddish brown ground beetle. The head is barely longer than wide (ignoring the mandibles). P. longiceps has a head that is notably longer than wide and it usually has a dark midline around the elytral sutures

Paranchus albipes

This is a 6 to 9mm long, dark brown ground beetle with conspicuous pale yellow legs and antennae. The first three antennal segments are all non-pubescent. Under stones and among litter or on mud at the side of lakes, streams and rivers.

Paratachys albipes

Identification: Large and dark, elytra iridescent due to dense microsculpture lines; hind angles of pronotum obtuse, basal margin oblique near them; males with first two protarsomeres dilated and with ventral adhesive setae.

Paratachys potomaca

Identification: Markedly reduced membranous wings, also characteristic are smaller, less convex eyes and the elytra shaped more oviform with more narrowed shoulders compared to very similar P. pumilus. (Peter Messer's comment)

Paratachys sagax

Identification: "[...] enormous hemispherical eyes. [...] darkened head and antennae, long antennomeres, concolorous pale pronotum and elytra without darker marks, transverse (therefore iridescent) pronotal and elytral microsculpture, linear trapezoi

Paratachys ventricosus

Identification: "two dilated protarsomeres and the Trechus-esque coloration and habitus" ‒Curt Harden's comment Holotype

Swift Tiger Beetle

Parvindela celeripes

Identification: Flightless, dull green to brown. Elytral maculations are broken into dots Det. Alex Harman, 2018 Texas considers this to be a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" (SGCN) this easily overlooked sp., may be more common than thought T

Meadow Tiger Beetle

Parvindela lunalonga

Identification: The species can exhibit very thin maculations to immaculate. The small size and dull appearance will generally separate it from other species in the region. It often appears with Cicindela haemorrhagica , but size, maculations (or lac

Pasimachus duplicatus

Identification: discal intervals hardly traceable, intervals 7 & 8 costate

Blue-bordered Pedunculate Ground Beetle

Pasimachus elongatus

Pasimachus elongatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in Central America and North America.

Pasimachus obsoletus

Identification: Most similar to P. elongatus , but borders of pronotum and elytra narrower and usually black (may be faintly blue, especially near humeri) • no fringe of yellow setae inside metatibia in males (present in P. elongatus )

Pasimachus sublaevis

Identification: Pronotum relatively unconstricted basally, hind corners obtuse, elytra somewhat irregularly dimpled; no median pairs of setae on ventrites 2‒5; dorsal fixed subapical mesotibial spine/spur laterally compressed. Mesotibial spine:

Moderately Sulcate Warrior Beetle

Pasimachus subsulcatus

Identification: Small; no paired median setae on ventrites 2‒5; dorsal fixed subapical mesotibial spine/spur not laterally compressed, acute; pronotum markedly emarginate above scutellum; pronotal margins just barely crenulate before base. Mesotibial

Patrobus atrorufus

7.5 to9.5 mm. Uniformly dark brown with reddish legs and antennae. The first two antennal segments are bare but the third is pubescent. The third antennal segment is longer than the first. Wings absent. Patrobus assimilis is similar but generally sli

Patrobus fossifrons

Pohl reported that members of this species can be segregated into a “coastal” and “inland” morphs and that hybridization occurs between the coastal form of P. fossifrons and P. stygicus

Pelophila borealis

Pelophila borealis is a species of ground beetle in Nebriinae subfamily which was described by Gustaf von Paykull in 1790. The species can be found in Belarus, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. It is black in colour and is

Pentagonica flavipes

Pentagonica flavipes is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and the Caribbean.

Pentagonica maculicornis

Identification: fulvous antennae, the entire scape and the other joints being brown only at the apex; prothorax with a broad, distinct, black stripe on both sides (Bates 1883), pronotal side marks vary from well defined, to indefinite smudges, or ent

Pentagonica marshalli

Identification: Differs from P. picticornis by antenna pale (emphasis added) distad scape, head proportionatly shorter (truncated behind eyes), and pronotum proportionately wider Type locality: 3 mill. NW Alligator Point, Franklin Co., Florida

Pentagonica nigricornis

Identification: differs from all previously described New World Pentagonica in type of coloration combined with uniformly black antennae (emphasis added). It resembles picticornis Bates of Guatemala except that the antennae (of nigricornis ) are not

Perigona nigriceps

Identification: note the distinctly widened antenna segments. (comm. per Peter W. Messer, 25 October, 2007) earliest record in our area: before 1853

Philophuga caerulea

Identification: Head and pronotum with metallic blue or blue-green lustre, similar in color to elytra and not contrasting; elytral striae deeply impressed; intervals convex, finely to moderately coarsely punctate Lectotype

Philophuga viridicollis

Identification: Head and pronotum with metallic green lustre, contrasting with blue elytra, or elytra also green; elytral striae shallowly impressed; intervals flat, finely punctate "Metatarsomere 4 is triangular and emarginate apically, not deeply b

Philophuga viridis

Identification: Pronotum and head concolorous, black with a metallic blue or green sheen; hind angle of pronotum with or without a setiferous puncture This is the most varied species of Philophuga , containing four well defined subspecies.

Physea hirta

Identification: Physea hirta has a uniform covering of short setae in addition to longer tactile setae, while Physea latipes lacks the short setae, having only the long tactile ones. Type locality: "Mexico ... a few miles south of our boundary" (orig