Carabus rutilans

Carabus rutilans

Carabus rutilans is a beetle of the family of beetles and the subfamily carabinae.

The genus name Carabus is just like the names of higher taxa derived to family ( Carabina, Carabini, carabinae, Carabidae ) from the Ancient Greek κάραβος = kárabos. The species name rutilans (Latin ) means " reddish shimmering ".

The attractive appearance of the handsome beetle makes him a sought-after collector's item and helps that he is bred by enthusiasts. Hybridization of Carabus Carabus rutilans with hispanus provides croesus the colorful Carabus. The writer Ernst Jünger chose as a title for a Parergon " Carabus rutilans " and describes it as a journey, with the aim to capture the beautiful beetle.

The handsome beetle is found only in the eastern Pyrenees. Despite the limited distribution area, the species has split there into three subspecies with numerous forms. In addition to the nominate Carabus rutilans rutilans still occur subspecies Carabus Carabus rutilans rutilans Opulentus and perignitus.

Characteristics of the beetle

The beetle has the typical for the genus form with the forward stretched, elongated head with bulging eyes, filiform antennae eleven-membered and six long walking legs with five-membered tarsi. The strong, inwardly curved upper jaw with an inner tooth and the almost triangular truncated end members of the four -membered lips and tripartite jaw buttons are clearly visible from above ( Fig. 1).

The underside of the body 24 to 27 millimeters long beetle is black, as are the legs and antennae. Head, pronotum and elytra are gold green or coppery and very shiny. The pronotum is finely transversely wrinkled ( Fig. 1). The elytra show three shallow lines of small dots and three rows of large green gold mines ( Fig. 2).

Biology

Larvae and adults of Carabus rutilans are predators. The species feeds on worms, slugs and snails. The beetle pursues the prey, it harvests in rotting leaves.

One finds the way from April to September under rocks and in decaying vegetation near streams in moist, but sparse forests mainly of beech and chestnut, but also of oak and pine at mid-height to a height of 2200 meters. The animals hibernate in tree stumps or under moss.

Dissemination

Carabus rutilans can be found in a narrow area between the French part of the eastern Pyrenees to the northern boundary of the province of Barcelona. The subspecies Carabus Carabus rutilans rutilans Opulentus and perignitus occur only in the Spanish part of the eastern Pyrenees, the nominate Carabus rutilans rutilans however, your in the French part.