Carabus

Blue Violet forest ground beetle ( Carabus problematicus )

The Real beetles or large ground beetle ( Carabus ) are a genus within the ground beetles ( Carabidae ); they include usually relatively large species, such as the up to 40 millimeters long leather beetle ( Carabus coriaceus ), the largest European species of the genus. In Europe live about 100 species of this group, including 33 in Central Europe; worldwide are over 850 species to be found.

Features

Large beetles make apart from members of the genus Procerus, such as the giant ground beetles ( Procerus gigas), in addition to the dolls robbers ( Calosoma ), sand beetles ( Cicindela ) and some lesser-known genera, the largest species of ground beetles. These products range in the European species of about 13 millimeters at the heath ground beetles ( Carabus nitens ) up to 40 millimeters at the leather beetles, tropical species can grow up to 70 millimeters long. Like all beetles, they have five-membered tarsi ( tarsi ) on all three pairs of legs and is deflected under a specially trained side edge of the front antennae with eleven members. In addition, the breast plates of the three thoracic segments are firmly fused together. From the outside, is usually seen only a fine line. The mostly smaller males can be recognized by the widened Vordertarsengliedern.

The wing covers ( elytra ) are designed differently and can have either a slight grain and longitudinal ribs. Frequently point and chain rows of depressions or elevations of the sculpture occur. In many species the elytra are fused at the seam. A second pair of wings is absent in them often. In addition, the flight muscles can be reduced completely or partially. The mouthparts are strongly developed normally and may vary depending on diet.

The larvae of large beetles can be constructed very differently. The spectrum ranges, depending on the habitat and way of life, of slender, parallel-sided to wide assel -like types.

Dissemination

The Real beetles are widespread Palaearctic and nearktisch and are found in a variety of terrestrial habitats. Many species are endemic spread or can be found in very specific habitats. Others have a very large area of ​​distribution as generalists.

Way of life

Most species of beetles are nocturnal. Furthermore, all species are predatory and hunt on the ground-dwelling insects and other arthropods and snails and earthworms. Some species are diurnal and hunt accordingly during the day. All Carabus species are adapted to life on the ground. A great deal, especially the large species is due to the reduction of the hind wings and flight muscles and the coalesced elytra no longer airworthy.

Large ground beetles also have a defense system against predators, especially birds developed and insectivorous mammals in that they can give digestive secretions from the mouth and other defense secretions from the anal glands.

Endangering

Many types of large beetles are dependent on very specific habitats and living conditions. This extremely adapted species have been partially reduced as much due to the increasing destruction of natural ecosystems and habitats in their presence, that they are now considered endangered and are listed according to the Red List. Particularly affected are the large species as just the Carabus species, which are also the most striking for hikers. Because of lay people can not be expected to keep apart all kinds, all kinds of rights beetles were placed under the provisions of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance in Germany.

Species

The large ground beetles are represented worldwide with more than 850 species, with new species are regularly described. In Europe, of these, about 100 species found in Central Europe live 33 species of the genus Carabus. The following list is a selection of species is:

  • Alpine ground beetle ( Carabus alpestris ) Storm, 1814
  • Hills Run beetle ( Carabus arcensis ) Autumn 1784
  • Gold beetle or Goldschmied ( Carabus auratus) Linnaeus, 1761
  • Gold Shiny beetle ( Carabus auronitens ) Fabricius, 1792
  • Körnerwarze or field ground beetle ( Carabus cancellatus ) Illiger, 1798
  • Carinthian ground beetles ( Carabus carinthiacus ) Storm, 1815
  • Shore beetle ( Carabus clatratus ) Linnaeus, 1761
  • Short Curved or Convex ground beetle ( Carabus convexus ) Fabricius, 1775
  • Leather Beetle ( Carabus coriaceus ) Linnaeus, 1758
  • Creutzers ground beetle ( Carabus creutzeri ) Fabricius, 1801
  • Fabricius ground beetle ( Carabus Fabricius ) Duftschmid, 1812
  • Carabus galicianus Gory, 1839
  • Germar ground beetle ( Carabus germarii ) Storm, 1815
  • Giant beetle ( Carabus gigas) Creutzer, 1799
  • Smooth ground beetle ( Carabus glabratus ) Paykull, 1790
  • Grain beetles or Grained ground beetles ( Carabus granulatus ) Linnaeus, 1758
  • Carabus hispanus Fabricius, 1787
  • Bonanza ground beetles ( Carabus hortensis ) Linnaeus, 1758
  • Dark blue beetles or Blue ground beetle ( Carabus intricatus ) Linnaeus, 1761
  • Ravine forest ground beetle ( Carabus irregularis ) Fabricius, 1792
  • Linnaeus ground beetles ( Carabus linnaei ) tanks, 1812
  • Moorland ground beetle ( Carabus menetriesi ) Hummel, 1827
  • Carabus monilis Fabricius, 1792
  • Grove beetle ( Carabus nemoralis ) OFMüller, 1764
  • Heather beetle ( Carabus nitens ) Linnaeus, 1758
  • Black pit beetle ( Carabus nodulosus ) Creutzer, 1799
  • Blue Violet forest ground beetle ( Carabus problematicus ) Autumn 1786
  • Carabus rutilans Dejean 1826
  • Scheid moth beetle ( Carabus scheidleri ) tanks, 1799
  • Mountain forest ground beetle ( Carabus sylvestris) tanks, 1793
  • Bump strip - beetle ( Carabus ullrichii ) Germar, 1824
  • Pit beetle ( Carabus variolosus ) Fabricius, 1787
  • Violet ground beetle or gold bar ( Carabus violaceus ) Linnaeus, 1758
Carabinae Nearctic ecozone Jacob Sturm Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Herbst Johan Christian Fabricius Caspar Erasmus Duftschmid Gustaf von Paykull Georg Wolfgang Franz Panzer Ernst Friedrich Germar Edmund Reitter
163799
de