Woodland Ground Beetles

Pterostichini

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Adephaga
Family: Carabidae
Subfamily: Harpalinae
Supertribe: Pterostichitae
Tribe: Pterostichini

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Pterostichini: /ˌtɛroʊˈstɪkaɪni/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Pterostichus lama by Kipling Will. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Poecilus P1280955a by
xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Cyclotrachelus unicolor - inat 255059855 by {{{name}}}. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Myas coracinus by Kipling Will. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Poecilus chalcites by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Abax parallelepipedus 48038102 by Dr. Guido Bohne. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Pterostichini is a diverse tribe of ground beetles, with a notable range of sizes and a distinctly dark coloration. They can be identified by their unique crossed elytral epipleuron and play significant roles in ecosystems as predators of other invertebrates.

Physical Characteristics

Medium-sized to fairly large, dark carabids; distinctive crossed elytral epipleuron near the apex of the elytron.

Identification Tips

Look for the marked crossed elytral epipleuron near the apex of the elytron, which is a distinctive characteristic of most species.

Habitat

Found in various terrestrial habitats, often in woodland or forested areas.

Distribution

Throughout North America and many other parts of the world; more than 3,800 described species globally.

Diet

Primarily carnivorous, feeding on smaller insects and other invertebrates.

Life Cycle

Adult beetles undergo complete metamorphosis with distinct egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.

Reproduction

Details are not specified, but typical of beetles, likely involves external fertilization with egg laying in soil or specific habitats.

Predators

Larger predatory insects and some birds may prey on Pterostichini beetles.

Ecosystem Role

Function as predators of other insects, assisting in controlling pest populations.