Cychrus caraboides

Common blade runner ( Cychrus caraboides )

The Ordinary blade runner blade runner or Granular ( Cychrus caraboides ) is a beetle of the family of ground beetles ( Carabidae ).

Features

The beetles, 12.5 to 20 millimeters long and have a particularly elongated head. The pronotum is narrower than long, finely longitudinally wrinkled elytra are oval shaped and tapering at the end. The Epipleuren are very wide. The animals have a completely black colored body, in contrast to the Narrow blade runner ( Cychrus attenuatus ) shines less conspicuous. There are subspecies, which are either stout and shiny (C. attenuatus caraboides ) or elongated and matt colored (C. attenuatus rostratus ).

Occurrence

The species occurs in Europe from northern Spain through southern Italy to the Balkans, in the north to beyond the Arctic Circle before. She lives in and around damp forests and on the edge of mountain meadows, both in the plains and at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. It is commonly found.

Way of life

The nocturnal imagos feed primarily on snails but also worms, other small animals and carrion. In snails they can penetrate deep into the housing through its narrow fore body. During the day they stay hidden under bark, dead wood, rocks or moss. Overwintering can occur both as a larva and as an adult animal. Usually the beetles hatch in late summer and then spend the winter hidden under moss, dead wood or bark.