Carabidae

(Ground Beetle)

The family Carabidae, also known as the slipper beetles, belongs to the order Coleoptera, which are beetles. This family includes more than 40,000 species worldwide, making the Carabidae one of the largest and most diverse groups of insects. Carabidae beetles are found in a wide variety of environments, from tropical rainforests to Arctic tundra. Their diversity is staggering, yet they share several common traits.

Family Carabidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Rhysodinae Laporte, 1840

Tribe Clinidiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
Tribe Dhysorini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
Tribe Leoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
Tribe Medisorini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1987
Tribe Omoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
Tribe Rhysodini Laporte, 1840
Tribe Sloanoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1991

Subfamily Nebriinae Laporte, 1834

Tribe Nebriini Laporte, 1834
Tribe Notiokasiini Kavanaugh & Negre, 1983
Tribe Notiophilini Motschulsky, 1850
Tribe Opisthiini Dupuis, 1912
Tribe Pelophilini Kavanaugh, 1996

Subfamily Carabinae Latreille, 1802

Tribe Carabini Latreille, 1802
Tribe Ceroglossini Lapouge, 1927
Tribe Cychrini Perty, 1830
Tribe Pamborini Hope, 1838

Subfamily Loricerinae Bonelli, 1810
Subfamily Omophroninae Bonelli, 1810
Subfamily Elaphrinae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Migadopinae Chaudoir, 1861

Tribe Amarotypini Erwin, 1985
Tribe Migadopini Chaudoir, 1861

Subfamily Hiletinae Schiodte, 1847
Subfamily Scaritinae Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Carenini W.J. MacLeay, 1887
Tribe Clivinini Rafinesque, 1815
Tribe Dalyatini Mateu, 2002
Tribe Dyschiriini Kolbe, 1880
Tribe Forcipatorini Bänninger, 1938
Tribe Palaeoaxinidiini McKay, 1991†
Tribe Pasimachini Putzeys, 1867
Tribe Promecognathini J.L. LeConte, 1853
Tribe Salcediini Alluaud, 1930 (1929)
Tribe Scaritini Bonelli, 1810

Subfamily Broscinae Hope, 1838

Tribe Broscini Hope, 1838

Subfamily Apotominae J.L. LeConte, 1853
Subfamily Siagoninae Bonelli, 1813

Tribe Enceladini G.H. Horn, 1881
Tribe Lupercini Lecordier, 1977
Tribe Siagonini Bonelli, 1813

Subfamily Melaeninae Csiki, 1933
Subfamily Gehringiinae Darlington, 1933

Tribe Gehringiini Darlington, 1933

Subfamily Trechinae Bonelli, 1810 1313

Tribe Anillini Jeannel, 1937
Tribe Bembidarenini Maddison & Erwin, 2019
Tribe Bembidiini Stephens, 1827
Tribe Horologionini Jeannel, 1949
Tribe Lovriciini Giachino et al., 2011
Tribe Pogonini Laporte, 1834
Tribe Sinozolini Deuve, 1997
Tribe Tachyini Motschulsky, 1862
Tribe Trechini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Zolini Sharp, 1886

Subfamily Patrobinae W. Kirby, 1837

Tribe Lissopogonini Zamotajlov, 2000
Tribe Patrobini W. Kirby, 1837

Subfamily Psydrinae J.L. LeConte, 1853

Tribe Moriomorphini Sloane, 1890 1414
Tribe Psydrini J.L. LeConte, 1853

Subfamily Nototylinae Bänninger, 1927
Subfamily Paussinae Latreille, 1806

Tribe Metriini J.L. LeConte, 1853
Tribe Microzaenini Deuve, 2020
Tribe Mystropomini G.H. Horn, 1881
Tribe Ozaenini Hope, 1838
Tribe Paussini Latreille, 1806
Tribe Protopaussini Gestro, 1892

Subfamily Cicindinae Csiki, 1927
Subfamily Brachininae Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Brachinini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Crepidogastrini Jeannel, 1949

Subfamily Harpalinae Bonelli, 1810

Tribe Abacetini Chaudoir, 1873
Tribe Amorphomerini Sloane, 1923
Tribe Anthiini Bonelli, 1813
Tribe Atranini G.H. Horn, 1881 1818
Tribe Bascanini Basilewsky, 1953
Tribe Calophaenini Jeannel, 1948
Tribe Catapieseini H.W. Bates, 1882
Tribe Chaetodactylini Tschitschérine, 1903 H
Tribe Chaetogenyini Emden, 1958
Tribe Chlaeniini Brullé, 1834
Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911
Tribe Corsyrini Ganglbauer, 1891
Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854
Tribe Ctenodactylini Laporte, 1834 H
Tribe Cuneipectini Sloane, 1907
Tribe Cyclosomini Laporte, 1834
Tribe Dercylini Sloane, 1923
Tribe Drimostomatini Chaudoir, 1872
Tribe Dryptini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Enoicini Basilewsky, 1985
Tribe Galeritini W. Kirby, 1825
Tribe Geobaenini Péringuey, 1896
Tribe Ginemini Ball & Shpeley, 2002
Tribe Glyptini G.H. Horn, 1881 H
Tribe Graphipterini Latreille, 1802
Tribe Harpalini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Helluonini Hope, 1838
Tribe Hexagoniini G.H. Horn, 1881 (1834)
Tribe Idiomorphini H.W. Bates, 1891
Tribe Lachnophorini J.L. LeConte, 1853
Tribe Lebiini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Licinini Bonelli, 1810 H
Tribe Masoreini Chaudoir, 1871
Tribe Melanchitonini Jeannel, 1948
Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948
Tribe Morionini Brullé, 1835
Tribe Odacanthini Laporte, 1834 1919
Tribe Omphreini Ganglbauer, 1891
Tribe Oodini LaFerté-Sénectere, 1851
Tribe Orthogoniini Schaum, 1857
Tribe Panagaeini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Peleciini Chaudoir, 1880
Tribe Perigonini G.H. Horn, 1881 [NP]
Tribe Physocrotaphini Chaudoir, 1863
Tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Pseudomorphini Hope, 1838
Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Sphodrini Laporte, 1834
Tribe Xenaroswellianini Erwin, 2007
Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Zuphiini Bonelli, 1810

One of the common features of Carabidae is their predatory lifestyle. Most species hunt and consume other insects, but some specialize in more specific foods such as snails or slugs. As a result, these beetles play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the populations of other insect groups.

These beetles are generally medium to large with sturdy bodies and strong legs adapted for fast running. Their trusses, or forewings, are tough and protect their hind wings and hind legs. The body colour of the slipper beetles ranges from glossy black to metallic green, blue or bronze.

Sow bugs have well-developed eyesight and an excellent ability to detect vibrations and chemical signals from their surroundings. As a result, they are able to effectively locate prey even in the dark or in dense vegetation. Some species even use pheromones to communicate with other individuals of their species.

Carabidae have a very interesting life cycle. The female lays her eggs in the soil or among plant debris, where the larvae hatch. These larvae feed on other insects and go through several developmental stages before pupating and metamorphosing into the adult beetle. This process can take several months to several years, depending on the species and environmental conditions.

Research on the Carabidae can provide useful insights into ecology, evolution and conservation. Their diversity, adaptations to different environments and interactions with other organisms make them a fascinating object of study for entomologists and the general public. Moreover, these beetles can be used as a biological indicator of environmental quality, as their presence often signals a healthy and stable ecosystem.