Pterostichus

Metallic grave beetle ( Pterostichus burmeisteri )

The grave beetle ( Pterostichus ) are a genus of beetles in the family of ground beetles ( Carabidae ) dar. In Central Europe, 57 species occur, in Germany there are 35

Features

The beetles are a few to about 20 millimeters long. They are mostly inconspicuous colored black. Like the other species of the family they have on the penultimate link in the labial palps two bristles, two supra-orbital bristles found at the rim of the eyes. In the male the first three Tarsenglieder the front legs are widened. The first three elements of the sensor are also without a sharp edge formed cylindrical, with which one can distinguish the genus well from the list beetles ( Poecilus ), in which at least the 2nd and 3rd antennal segment is compressed and the upper side each has a sharp edge. The elytra have the third interspace or at least a third strip often difficult dented visible pore. The Epipleuren are crossed in front of the tip. The leg rings ( trochanters ) of the hind legs are about half as long as the legs ( femurs ).

Occurrence

The animals are widespread and prefer moist areas such as wet meadows, shores of water bodies and forests. They occur from deep layers to the mountains, but many species live only in the high mountains. One finds the animals from March to October under rocks or in the ground.

Way of life

The nocturnal imagines and their larvae feed predatory. The larvae develop in the soil. In some species, a strong parental care is observed. The females build under rocks or dead wood small caves with smooth walls, where they lay about 20 eggs. The female remains in this cave until the larvae hatch, but neither eggs nor larvae are defended against predators. After pupation the beetles hatch usually in September and overwinter.

Types (selection)

  • Black grave beetle ( Pterostichus aethiops ) ( Panzer, 1797)
  • Black carbon grave runners ( Pterostichus anthracinus ) ( Illiger, 1798)
  • Pterostichus aterrimus (Fall, 1784)
  • Metallic grave beetle ( Pterostichus burmeisteri ) Army, 1841
  • Mountain forest - grave beetle ( Pterostichus cognatus ) ( Dejean, 1831)
  • Pterostichus diligens (Sturm, 1824)
  • Elongated grave beetle ( Pterostichus elongatus ) ( Duftschmid, 1812)
  • Gebändertpunktierter grave beetle ( Pterostichus fasciatopunctatus ) ( Creutzer, 1799)
  • Pterostichus gracilis ( Dejean, 1828)
  • Pterostichus macer ( Marsham, 1802)
  • Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius, 1775)
  • Common grave beetle ( Pterostichus melanarius ) ( Illiger, 1798)
  • Pterostichus melas ( Creutzer, 1799)
  • Small grave beetle ( Pterostichus minor) ( Gyllenhal, 1827)
  • Eastern Alps - grave beetle ( Pterostichus muehlfeldi ) ( Duftschmid, 1812)
  • Large grave beetle ( Pterostichus niger) ( Schaller, 1783)
  • Dusky grave beetle ( Pterostichus nigrita ) ( Paykull, 1790)
  • True shoulder runners ( Pterostichus oblongopunctatus ) ( Fabricius, 1787)
  • Pterostichus ovoideus (Sturm, 1824)
  • Viergrubiger grave beetle ( Pterostichus quadrifoveolatus ) Letzner, 1852
  • Pterostichus Rhaeticus Army, 1837
  • Vivid grave beetle ( Pterostichus strenuus ) ( Panzer, 1797)
  • Pterostichus unctulatus ( Duftschmid, 1812)
  • Spring grave beetle ( Pterostichus vernalis ) ( Panzer, 1796)
  • Ziegler grave beetle ( Pterostichus ziegleri ) ( Duftschmid, 1812)
Pterostichinae Franco Andrea Bonelli
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