Carabus granulatus
Grain beetle ( Carabus granulatus )
The Grain beetles or Granular beetles ( Carabus granulatus ) is a beetle of the family of ground beetles ( Carabidae ).
Features
Grain beetles are 17 to 23 millimeters long. The chitin armor is bronze and shines mostly green. On the elytra are distinct longitudinal grooves in which there are small " granular " surveys. Both the sensor and the legs are entirely black and very long. The legs may exceptionally be red. The elytra widen in the front half less rounded than in Carabus cancellatus and reach their greatest width behind the middle
Subspecies
- Carabus granulatus aetolicus foam, 1857
- Carabus granulatus calabricus Spettoli & Vigna Taglianti, 2001
- Carabus granulatus crimeensis Breuning, 1933
- Carabus granulatus duarius Fischer von Waldheim, 1844
- Carabus granulatus granulatus Linnaeus, 1758
- Carabus granulatus Hibernicus Lindroth, 1956
- Carabus granulatus interstitial Duftschmid, 1812
Occurrence
The Granular beetle is widespread in Europe and Asia. He also has been introduced in North America. It is found in meadows, fields and forests.
Way of life
He is one of the very few species of the Real beetles, which have their flight ability is not completely lost, only the mountain forms are kurzflügelig. Nevertheless, the nocturnal animals usually hold on to the ground, where they prey on insects, worms and snails. During the day they hide under logs or stones. From autumn to spring, the animals often hibernate together in tree stumps. Since the grained beetles like to eat potato beetle also, they are very useful for agriculture. The females of the grained ground beetle lay about forty eggs. The larvae molt three times before they pupate in the soil. In the fall hatch the finished beetles. The Grain beetles in Germany is under protection.