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Ground beetles
Golden ground beetle Carabus auratus With earthworm prey
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Hexapoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Suborder: Adephaga Family: Carabidae Latreille, 1802
Genera
Many genera; see text.

Beetles within the Coleoptera family Carabidae are commonly known as ground beetles.

Carabidae is a large family, with more than 40,000 species worldwide (approximately 2,000 of which reside in North America and 2,700 in Europe)^[1]. Most species are carnivorous, and some will run swiftly to catch their prey. Although there is some variation in their body shape and coloring, most are shiny, black (some are metallic), and have ridged elytra (wing covers). Ground beetles in the genus Brachinus are commonly known as bombardier beetles; they are noted for their defensive ability to squirt a jet of hot foul-smelling liquid from their abdomens. Ground beetles in the subfamily Cicindelinae are known as tiger beetles. Unlike most of the other species of Carabidae, which are nocturnal, the tiger beetles are active diurnal hunters, and often brightly coloured. All species except the more primitive Paussinae, have a groove on their front tibiae (leg) bearing a comb of hairs, for cleaning their antennae. Common habitats are under the bark of trees, under logs, or amongst rocks or sand by the edge of ponds and rivers.

Ground beetles of the species Promecognathus laevissimus are specialised predators of the millipede Harpaphe haydeniana, countering the hydrogen cyanide defence mechanism used by the millipede.

Ground beetles in the subfamily Mormolycinae are known as violin beetles.

The most effective method of controlling this particular pest is to spray likely points of entry; such as windows, doors and skirting boards with a repellent known as cypetmethrin. The beauty of this insecticide is that it's not really harmful to humans or household pets; and ground beetles hate it with a passion.

Anthia sexguttata (India)

Six-spotted green tiger beetle Cicindela sexguttata

Unknown species of ground beetle on a Carpobrotus edulis flower

An incomplete list of subfamilies and genera:See also ITIS

Subfamily - Agoninae

• • Three genera in South Australia
  • Laemostenus - one species
  • Notogonum - Three species
  • Homothes - four species

1. ^ Kromp, B. 1999. Carabid beetles in sustainable agriculture: a review on pest control efficacy, cultivation aspects and enhancement. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 74: 187-228

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Carabidae

Wikispecies has information related to:

Carabidae

• Edmund Reitter. Fauna Germanica. Käfer, 1908, I:67-201.
• C. H. Lindroth. Svensk Insectenfauna 9, Coleoptera, Carabidae. Stockholm, 1942 : 1-260.
• E. Csiki. Die Aäferfauna des Karpaten-Beckens. Budapest 1946, 1:71-546.
• K. Kult. Klic k urcovani brouku celedi Carabidae Ceskoslovenske republiky. Praha 1947:1-198.

• Tree of Life page, Family Carabidae, with pictures
• OPH Good Housekeeping - Household Pest Control