Carabidae
Guides
Abacetini
Abacetini is a tribe of ground beetles (family Carabidae) containing at least 3 genera and approximately 40 described species. Taxonomic treatment of this group has been revised: it was formerly recognized as a distinct tribe but is now often treated as the subtribe Abacetina within the tribe Pterostichini. Members of this group are part of the diverse ground beetle fauna, which are predominantly predatory and terrestrial.
Abaris
ground beetles
Abaris is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) occurring exclusively in the Americas. The genus contains species recognized as biological control agents of agricultural pests, particularly in South American agro-ecosystems. Abaris basistriata, the most studied species, has been extensively investigated for its potential in integrated pest management programs. Laboratory studies demonstrate that substrate and diet significantly influence life cycle duration, survival rates, and reproductive output.
Acupalpus hydropicus
Acupalpus hydropicus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. First described by LeConte in 1863, this beetle belongs to the genus Acupalpus, a group of small to medium-sized carabids. The species has been documented in the United States and is known to be predatory.
Acupalpus indistinctus
Indistinct Harp Ground Beetle
Acupalpus indistinctus is a small ground beetle species described by Dejean in 1831. It belongs to the genus Acupalpus within the family Carabidae. The species has been recorded in Canada and the United States. Limited observational data exists, with 21 records on iNaturalist.
Acupalpus pauperculus
Impoverished Harp Ground Beetle
Acupalpus pauperculus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1829. It is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Acupalpus, a group of small to medium-sized ground beetles often associated with moist habitats. Despite its wide geographic range, it remains poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Acupalpus pumilus
Dwarf Harp Ground Beetle
Acupalpus pumilus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Lindroth in 1968. It is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Acupalpus, a group of small ground beetles often referred to as harp ground beetles. Very few observations of this species have been documented.
Acupalpus punctulatus
Marsh ground beetle
Acupalpus punctulatus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, tribe Stenolophini. It was described by Hatch in 1953 and is currently treated as a synonym of Anthracus punctulatus in some taxonomic databases. The species is known by the common name "marsh ground beetle," suggesting an association with wetland or moist habitats. Very few observations exist in public databases, indicating it may be rarely encountered or underreported.
Acupalpus tener
A small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described by LeConte in 1857. Currently treated as a synonym of Anthracus tener. The species is part of the tribe Stenolophini, a group of small carabid beetles commonly found in various terrestrial habitats.
Agonoleptus
Agonoleptus is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising approximately eight described species. The genus was established by Casey in 1914 and is classified within the tribe Stenolophini, subfamily Harpalinae. Species in this genus are found in North America, with records from the United States including Vermont.
Agonoleptus conjunctus
Adjoining Harp Ground Beetle
Agonoleptus conjunctus is a small ground beetle in the tribe Stenolophini, commonly known as the Adjoining Harp Ground Beetle. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823 and occurs across a broad range from southern Canada through the United States to Central America. As a member of the Carabidae family, it is a predatory beetle active on the ground surface.
Agonoleptus convexulus
Agonoleptus convexulus is a ground beetle species in the tribe Stenolophini, first described by Darlington in 1934. It is known from Cuba and belongs to a genus of small carabid beetles. As a member of the Adephaga suborder, it is presumed to be predatory, though specific ecological data are limited.
Agonoleptus rotundicollis
Round-collared Harp Ground Beetle
A ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by Haldeman in 1843. The specific epithet 'rotundicollis' refers to its rounded pronotum. It belongs to the tribe Stenolophini, a group of small to medium-sized ground beetles often associated with open habitats.
Agonoleptus thoracicus
Agonoleptus thoracicus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1914. It belongs to the tribe Stenolophini within the subfamily Harpalinae. The species has been documented in North America, with specific records from the United States including Vermont.
Agonum aeruginosum
Agonum aeruginosum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized carabid beetles commonly found in moist habitats. The species name "aeruginosum" refers to a copper-green or verdigris coloration, though specific color details for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Agonum albicrus
A ground beetle in the Platyninae subfamily described by Dejean in 1828. Long thought restricted to Mount Vernon, Alabama, but subsequent surveys revealed a much broader distribution across the eastern United States. The species was not studied again until Lindroth's work in 1955 and 1966, then rediscovered in multiple states starting in 2008.
Agonum anchomenoides
Agonum anchomenoides is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in Canada and the United States, with records extending to Alaska. As a member of Carabidae, it is a predatory beetle. Specific details regarding its ecology and behavior remain poorly documented in published sources.
Agonum canadense
Agonum canadense is a ground beetle species in the subfamily Platyninae, first described by Goulet in 1969. The species has a restricted distribution in eastern North America, with confirmed records from Ontario, Canada and Pennsylvania, United States. As a member of the large genus Agonum, it shares the general characteristics of small to medium-sized ground beetles with elongated bodies and thread-like antennae.
Agonum collare
Agonum collare is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, found in North America. It belongs to the subfamily Platyninae and is part of the diverse genus Agonum, which contains numerous ground beetle species. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1830. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with moist habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Agonum corvus
Agonum corvus is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae, first described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1860. The species is endemic to North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. It is one of approximately 1,200 species in the genus Agonum, a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
Agonum crenulatum
Agonum crenulatum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. Members of the genus Agonum are generally predatory beetles found in moist habitats. The species is part of the diverse North American fauna of platynine ground beetles. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Agonum cyclifer
Agonum cyclifer is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The genus Agonum includes predatory beetles commonly found in moist habitats. Very few published observations exist for this species.
Agonum darlingtoni
Darlington's Harp Ground Beetle
Agonum darlingtoni is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Platyninae. It measures 4.9–5.9 mm in length and is black with iridescent, deeply striated elytra. The species occurs in northeastern North America, including the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. It is associated with wet habitats and likely overwinters as an adult.
Agonum elongatulum
Agonum elongatulum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Agonum, it is a predatory beetle. The species has been documented in turfgrass ecosystems, where it functions as part of the predatory arthropod community.
Agonum extensicolle
Agonum extensicolle is a species of ground beetle in the subfamily Platyninae. It occurs in western North America, including Arizona in the United States and Canada. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles. The species is documented in the iNaturalist database with approximately 800 observations.
Agonum extimum
Agonum extimum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Liebherr in 1986. It is known from Central America and North America. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of predatory ground beetles commonly found in moist habitats. The species is part of the subfamily Platyninae, which includes many habitat-specialist beetles.
Agonum fossiger
Agonum fossiger is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It belongs to the large genus Agonum, which contains numerous species of small to medium-sized predatory beetles. Records indicate presence in Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As a member of Carabidae, it is presumed to be predatory, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Agonum gratiosum
Gracious Ground Beetle
Agonum gratiosum is a ground beetle species in the Platyninae subfamily, first described by Mannerheim in 1853. It has a trans-Beringian distribution spanning the Russian Far East (Chukotka and Kamchatka) and western North America (Alaska). The species belongs to a large genus of small to medium-sized predatory beetles commonly found in moist habitats.
Agonum lutulentum
Brown-prothorax Ground Beetle
Agonum lutulentum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the Brown-prothorax Ground Beetle. It inhabits marsh environments, particularly the emergent vegetation of flooded zones. The species exhibits resource partitioning behavior, occupying macrohabitats that are mutually exclusive with sympatric congeners such as A. ferruginosum. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in central Alberta, Canada.
Agonum moerens
Agonum moerens is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of small to medium-sized ground beetles often associated with moist habitats.
Agonum muelleri
Müller's Harp Ground Beetle
Agonum muelleri is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, widespread across the Palearctic, Nearctic, and Near East regions. It is notably abundant in agricultural landscapes, particularly soybean fields, where it functions as an active predator of pest insects. The species exhibits atypical behavior for a ground beetle by readily climbing vegetation to hunt prey. Two subspecies are recognized: A. muelleri muelleri and A. muelleri unicolor.
Agonum mutatum
Variable Ground Beetle
Agonum mutatum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across North America including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species is known by the common name Variable Ground Beetle. As a member of the genus Agonum, it likely shares the predatory habits characteristic of this group, though specific details about its biology remain limited in published sources.
Agonum nigriceps
Agonum nigriceps is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1846. It occurs across the Holarctic region, with records from North America (including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous USA), Europe, and Northern Asia (excluding China). As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles commonly associated with moist habitats.
Agonum pallipes
Agonum pallipes is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, found in North America. The species is part of a large genus of predatory beetles commonly known as ground beetles. As with other members of Carabidae, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details are poorly documented in available sources.
Agonum palustre
Agonum palustre is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Goulet in 1969. It is native to North America. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly associated with moist or wetland habitats. The specific epithet "palustre" (Latin for "of marshes") suggests an association with marshy or wetland environments.
Agonum piceolum
Agonum piceolum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1879. It is native to North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it is a predatory beetle that inhabits ground-level habitats. The species is part of a diverse genus containing numerous similar-looking ground beetles that require careful examination for identification.
Agonum placidum
Agonum placidum is a black ground beetle in the Platyninae subfamily. It inhabits woodlands, thickets, and open fields across southern Canada and the northeastern United States. The species has been documented in turfgrass environments where it functions as a generalist predator.
Agonum retractum
A wing polymorphic ground beetle found in aspen woodlands of the Canadian Rockies and across North America. Females exhibit both short-winged and long-winged morphs, with the long-winged form capable of flight until reproduction triggers flight muscle atrophy. Males are predominantly short-winged. The species has been studied for its role in chemical cycling within forest ecosystems and its population biology in stable, non-migratory populations.
Agonum tenue
Agonum tenue is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described as Platynus tenuis by LeConte in 1854. It belongs to the tribe Platynini within the subfamily Harpalinae. The species is recorded from North America, with distribution spanning Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Agonum, it shares the general characteristics of this diverse group of ground beetles, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain limited in available sources.
Agonum texanum
Agonum texanum is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Platyninae. The species was originally described by LeConte in 1878 as Platynus texanus. It is endemic to Texas, United States, and has been recorded in the GBIF database from both the USA and Mexico. As a member of the genus Agonum, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles commonly found in moist habitats.
Agonum trigeminum
triple harp ground beetle
Agonum trigeminum is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, measuring 8.3–10 mm in length. It is deep black in color and occurs in the eastern United States and eastern Canada. The species is associated with margins of eutrophic ponds and pools with dense vegetation. It is one of several Agonum species studied as part of predator communities in turfgrass ecosystems.
Agra
elegant canopy beetles
Agra is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) commonly known as elegant canopy beetles. The genus contains over 500 described species, with more than 1000 additional specimens in collections awaiting formal description. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Lebiinae and tribe Lebiini, and are characterized by their association with forest canopy habitats.
Agra rileyi
Agra rileyi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Terry Erwin in 2017. It belongs to the large genus Agra, which comprises hundreds of species primarily distributed in the Neotropics. The species epithet honors someone with the surname Riley, though the specific honoree is not documented in available sources. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a predatory beetle inhabiting forested environments.
Agra wickhami
Akephorus obesus
Obese Point-bearing Beetle
Akephorus obesus is a small ground beetle in the tribe Dyschiriini, characterized by a notably robust body form that inspired its specific epithet. The species occurs across northern North America, with scattered records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the Carabidae family, it likely inhabits soil and leaf litter environments, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species was originally described by LeConte in 1863 under the genus Dyschirius before transfer to Akephorus.
Amara
Sun Beetles
Amara is a large genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, commonly known as sun beetles. The genus has a primarily Holarctic distribution, with most species occurring in the Northern Hemisphere. A few species extend into the Neotropics and eastern Asia. Members of this genus are active predators and are frequently observed in open, sunny habitats.
Amara aenea
Common Sun Beetle
Amara aenea, commonly known as the common sun beetle, is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs across almost all of Europe and Northern Asia, with its range extending into parts of Northern Africa. Adults are predatory, feeding on insects including agricultural pests such as apple maggot and soybean aphid. The species has been studied for potential use in integrated pest management programs.
Amara angustata
Amara angustata is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, native to North America. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is currently recognized as a valid species in GBIF and iNaturalist databases, though Catalogue of Life lists it as an ambiguous synonym. The species belongs to the large genus Amara, which comprises numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Holarctic region.
Amara angustatoides
Amara angustatoides is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Hieke in 2000. It belongs to the genus Amara, a large group of seed-eating ground beetles. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Available information on this species remains limited.
Amara apachensis
Amara apachensis is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Casey in 1884. It belongs to the large genus Amara, which comprises numerous species of small to medium-sized beetles commonly found in diverse terrestrial habitats. The species is known from the United States, with distribution records indicating presence in North America. Like other members of Carabidae, it is presumed to be predatory or omnivorous, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Amara aurata
Amara aurata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1828. It belongs to the large genus Amara, which contains numerous species distributed across North America and other regions. As a member of Carabidae, it is part of a diverse family of predatory beetles commonly known as ground beetles.