Ground-beetle
Guides
Lebia tricolor
Lebia tricolor is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is a member of the colorful foliage ground beetle genus Lebia, characterized by small size and often bright metallic coloration. The species is found in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As with other Lebia species, it is attracted to lights at night.
Lebia viridipennis
green-winged lebia
Lebia viridipennis, the green-winged lebia, is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, including Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the genus Lebia, a group of colorful foliage ground beetles often noted for their bright metallic wing covers.
Lebia viridis
colorful foliage ground beetle
Lebia viridis is a predatory ground beetle in the family Carabidae, recognized for its small size and bright metallic coloration. Adults measure 5–7 mm in length and are diurnal, often found on flowers and vegetation. The species occurs across North America, extending south through Mexico and Guatemala, with populations also recorded on Cuba. It is sometimes attracted to lights at night.
Lebia vittata
Colorful foliage ground beetle
Lebia vittata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the colorful foliage ground beetle. It is found in North America, with records from Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The species is attracted to lights at night, suggesting nocturnal activity patterns. Like other members of the genus Lebia, it is relatively small but draws attention with bright metallic wing covers.
Lebiina
Lebiina is a subtribe of ground beetles (Carabidae) within the tribe Lebiini. It comprises at least two genera, Lebia and Matabele, with documented species from Southwest Saudi Arabia. The subtribe has been subject to recent taxonomic revision in the Arabian Peninsula, revealing previously unrecorded species for the region.
Leistus ferrugineus
Palearctic rusty basket-throat
Leistus ferrugineus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to the Palearctic region and introduced to northeastern North America. It inhabits mixed forests, where it occurs on moist gravelly ground, grassy areas, hedges, and open woodland. Adults are brachypterous, possessing reduced wings that limit flight capability. The species is part of the subfamily Nebriinae, a group of ground beetles often associated with cool, moist habitats.
Leistus ferruginosus
Nearctic rusty basket-throat
Leistus ferruginosus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the Nearctic rusty basket-throat. It occurs across northern North America, including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species inhabits deciduous forests on moderately moist, somewhat shaded ground. Like other members of the genus Leistus, it is characterized by a distinctive "basket-throat" structure formed by elongated mandibles and associated mouthparts.
Leptotrachelus depressus
Leptotrachelus depressus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Blatchley in 1923. It is a small, flattened beetle found in North America. The species belongs to the tribe Ctenodactylini within the subfamily Ctenodactylinae, a group characterized by their depressed body form and association with ground-dwelling habitats.
Leptotrachelus dorsalis
Leptotrachelus dorsalis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, distributed across North America including Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. The species has been documented as a predator of eggs and larvae of Diatraea saccharalis, a significant agricultural pest. As a member of the subfamily Ctenodactylinae, it represents one of the many predatory beetle species contributing to biological control in crop systems.
Lionepha casta
Lionepha casta is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Casey in 1918 and is found in North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species belongs to the tribe Bembidiini within the subfamily Trechinae. As a ground beetle, it is likely predatory, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Lionepha erasa
A ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, Lionepha erasa occurs in western North America from Oregon through Alaska. It was previously confused with a widespread congeneric species now named L. probata. The species has 12 pairs of autosomes and an X0/XX sex-chromosome system.
Lophoglossus scrutator
Lophoglossus scrutator is a species of woodland 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 Lophoglossus, it belongs to a group of carabid beetles typically associated with forest habitats.
Loricera
Loricera is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) comprising approximately 17 described species. It is the sole genus of the subfamily Loricerinae. Members of this genus are distinguished by a remarkable morphological specialization: modified antennal setae that form a prey-capture apparatus for hunting Collembola (springtails). The genus has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in both the Palearctic and Nearctic regions.
Loricera decempunctata
10-spotted springtail-hunter
Loricera decempunctata is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the 10-spotted springtail-hunter. It occurs in western North America from Alaska to California. The species is associated with freshwater margins including ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams. Its common name suggests specialization on springtails (Collembola), though this diet has not been formally documented in published literature.
Loricera pilicornis
Hairy-horned Springtail-hunter
Loricera pilicornis is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, notable for its highly specialized antennal setal trap used to capture Collembola (springtails). The species possesses modified setae on the proximal antennal segments that form a mechanical trap capable of retaining most springtail prey. It is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America and parts of Asia.
Medon fusculus
Medon fusculus is a small rove beetle (Staphylinidae) originally described from Europe and now known from a broad Palearctic distribution extending from Western Europe through Turkey to the Caucasus, Middle East, and Iran. It has been introduced to eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec). The species belongs to the diverse genus Medon, which contains numerous small, ground-dwelling species that are often poorly distinguished morphologically. Available records are sparse, with only three observations documented on iNaturalist.
Medusapyga chehalis
Medusapyga chehalis is a ground beetle species described in 2023, making it one of the most recently described members of the Carabidae family. It belongs to the genus Medusapyga, which was established in 2019 and is characterized by distinctive morphological features. The species epithet "chehalis" refers to the Chehalis River region of western Washington State, indicating its type locality. As a newly described species, published information on its biology and ecology remains limited.
Metrius contractus contractus
Contracted Bombing Beetle
Metrius contractus contractus is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to western North America. It belongs to the tribe Metriini, which is notable for its specialized chemical defense mechanisms. The species has been documented in Canada and the United States, with observations concentrated in western regions. Like other members of its genus, it possesses the ability to discharge defensive chemicals, earning it the common name 'Contracted Bombing Beetle.'
Micratopus
Micratopus is a genus of small ground beetles in the family Carabidae, established by Casey in 1914. The genus comprises seven described species distributed across the Caribbean, South America, and North America. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Bembidiini and are characterized by their diminutive size, a trait reflected in the genus name. Several species have been described relatively recently, with three new species named in 2021 from the Lesser Antilles.
Micratopus insularis
Micratopus insularis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Darlington in 1934. The species is endemic to the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. As a member of the tribe Bembidiini, it belongs to a diverse group of small carabid beetles often associated with riparian or moist habitats. The genus Micratopus is part of the subtribe Tachyina, which contains numerous species with reduced or modified wings and island-associated distributions.
Micratopus parviceps
Micratopus parviceps is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Darlington in 1934. It belongs to the subfamily Trechinae and tribe Bembidiini. The genus name Micratopus suggests small feet, while the specific epithet parviceps refers to a small head. Very little detailed information is available about this species beyond its taxonomic classification and geographic origin in Cuba.
Microlestes
Microlestes is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Lebiinae. The genus contains approximately 127 species distributed across the Afro-tropical region, Palearctic (including Europe), Near East, North Africa, and Oriental region. Species in this genus are small ground beetles, with some exhibiting pronounced sexual dimorphism in leg structure.
Microlestes curtipennis
Microlestes curtipennis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Casey in 1920. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Microlestes, it belongs to a group of small carabid beetles commonly known as ant-like beetles due to their morphology and behavior.
Microlestes linearis
A small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Lebiinae. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Microlestes, it is likely associated with ground-level habitats where it functions as a predatory beetle.
Miscodera
A monotypic genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) containing only Miscodera arctica. The genus has a circumpolar Arctic distribution with disjunct populations in northern New England. Its taxonomic placement has been historically disputed, currently assigned to subfamily Broscinae though formerly placed in Trechinae.
Miscodera arctica
Miscodera arctica is a ground beetle (family Carabidae) and the sole species in its genus. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of North America and Eurasia. The species is placed in the subfamily Broscinae, a group of carabid beetles often associated with cool or montane habitats. As the only member of Miscodera, it represents a monotypic lineage within the diverse ground beetle fauna.
Mochtherus tetraspilotus
Mochtherus tetraspilotus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by W.S. MacLeay in 1825. The species has a broad distribution spanning multiple continents including Australia, Asia, and North America. It belongs to the subfamily Lebiinae, a group often associated with arboreal or ground-dwelling predatory habits. The specific epithet "tetraspilotus" refers to four spots or markings.
Myas coracinus
woodland ground beetle
Myas coracinus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Thomas Say in 1923. It is classified within the genus Myas and occurs in woodland habitats across North America. Like other carabid beetles, it is a ground-dwelling predator. Specific details about its biology remain limited in published literature.
Nebria arkansana edwardsi
Nebria arkansana edwardsi is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Kavanaugh in 1979. As a member of the genus Nebria, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with riparian and moist forest habitats. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the broader N. arkansana species complex.
Nebria arkansana fragilis
Nebria arkansana fragilis is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1924. It belongs to the subgenus Erwinebria within the genus Nebria. The species N. arkansana is part of a Holarctic genus of carabid beetles commonly associated with riparian and moist habitats in montane and subalpine environments. The subspecific epithet 'fragilis' suggests morphological distinction from the nominate subspecies, though specific diagnostic characters are not documented in available sources.
Nebria brevicollis
European Gazelle Beetle, Short-collared Gazelle Beetle
Nebria brevicollis is a ground beetle native to Europe and the Near East that has been introduced to western North America. It is a nocturnal, opportunistic predator with a flexible life history involving photoperiod-controlled reproductive diapause. The species exhibits remarkable habitat breadth, from sea level to alpine zones, and shows phenotypic plasticity in flight muscle development based on larval nutrition. Its rapid expansion in the Pacific Northwest has raised questions about potential ecological impacts on native carabid communities.
Nebria crassicornis crassicornis
A subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described from western North America. As a member of the subgenus Boreonebria, it belongs to a lineage of cold-adapted carabid beetles typically associated with montane and boreal environments. The subspecific designation indicates geographic or morphological variation within the broader species N. crassicornis.
Nebria crassicornis intermedia
Nebria crassicornis intermedia is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Van Dyke in 1949. It belongs to the subgenus Boreonebria within the genus Nebria, a group of carabid beetles often associated with cool, moist environments. The subspecies designation indicates geographic variation within the broader species N. crassicornis, which occurs in western North America.
Nebria diversa
sea beach gazelle beetle
Nebria diversa is a coastal ground beetle endemic to sandy Pacific beaches of western North America. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), restricting dispersal to coastal habitats. The species is nocturnal and occupies a narrow ecological niche beneath driftwood and debris on open sandy shorelines.
Nebria frigida
frigid gazelle beetle
Nebria frigida is a ground beetle species in the subfamily Nebriinae, described by R.F. Sahlberg in 1844. It exhibits a Holarctic distribution spanning the Palearctic and Nearctic realms. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous. The species inhabits cold-temperate and boreal regions, with populations established across northern Eurasia and western North America.
Nebria gebleri
Gebler's gazelle beetle
Nebria gebleri is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Dejean in 1831. It is found in North America, with a distribution spanning Alaska, Canada, and the western United States. The species comprises six recognized subspecies, each associated with specific mountain ranges. Adults are nocturnal and carnivorous.
Nebria gebleri cascadensis
Nebria gebleri cascadensis is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Kavanaugh in 1979. It belongs to the subgenus Catonebria within the genus Nebria. The subspecies is distributed in northwestern North America, including Alaska and parts of Canada and the contiguous United States. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting it may be uncommon or underreported.
Nebria gebleri gebleri
Nebria gebleri gebleri is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Nebriinae. It is native to boreal and montane regions of North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species is part of the subgenus Catonebria, a group characterized by cold-adapted biology and often associated with high-elevation or high-latitude habitats.
Nebria gregaria
gregarious gazelle beetle
Nebria gregaria is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly known as the gregarious gazelle beetle. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species is restricted to riparian habitats and is found in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, eastern Russia, and China.
Nebria kincaidi
Kincaid's gazelle beetle
Nebria kincaidi is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Schwarz in 1900. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species comprises two recognized subspecies with distinct geographic distributions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Nebria lacustris
Lacustrine Gazelle Beetle
Nebria lacustris is a small ground beetle in the subfamily Nebriinae, commonly known as the lacustrine gazelle beetle. The species is characterized by its black body and orange legs, with adults measuring 9–12 mm in length. It is known for its rapid movement and nocturnal activity pattern. The species occurs in southern Canada and the eastern and central United States.
Nebria mannerheimii
Mannerheim's gazelle beetle
Nebria mannerheimii, commonly known as Mannerheim's gazelle beetle, is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae. It occurs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, where it inhabits riparian environments along streams and rivers. Adults are nocturnal predators.
Nebria metallica
Metallic gazelle beetle
Nebria metallica is a ground beetle species in the subfamily Nebriinae, first described by Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim in 1822. It is known by the common name Metallic gazelle beetle. The species has a predatory lifestyle, with both larvae and adults functioning as predators. It occupies a range extending from the Aleutian Islands through Alaska and western Canada to the northwestern contiguous United States.
Nebria obliqua
Oblique Mountains gazelle beetle
Nebria obliqua is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by LeConte in 1867. It belongs to the subgenus Reductonebria and is one of two recognized subspecies: the nominate N. o. obliqua and N. o. chuskae. The species is distributed across northern North America, including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States.
Nebria ovipennis
oval gazelle beetle
Nebria ovipennis is a ground beetle endemic to California and Nevada, where it inhabits meadows and snowfield margins in upland and mountainous areas. Adults are brachypterous (short-winged), nocturnal, and carnivorous. The species belongs to the subfamily Nebriinae, a group often associated with cool, moist habitats at higher elevations.
Nebria pallipes
Pale-legged Gazelle Beetle
Nebria pallipes is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, distributed across eastern North America from lowland to upland areas. Adults are nocturnal, gregarious, and carnivorous. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Nebria schwarzi
Schwarz's gazelle beetle
Nebria schwarzi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Van Dyke in 1925. The species is endemic to western North America, with two recognized subspecies: the nominate form N. s. schwarzi found in Alberta and British Columbia, and N. s. beverlianna restricted to Wyoming. Like other members of the genus Nebria, it is commonly referred to as a 'gazelle beetle' due to its characteristic rapid running behavior.
Nebria suturalis
seamed gazelle beetle
Nebria suturalis, commonly known as the seamed gazelle beetle, is a flightless ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species exhibits wing dimorphism with both forms incapable of flight. Adults are strictly nocturnal and carnivorous. It is restricted to high-elevation habitats, occurring on mountain tops across a disjunct range in northeastern North America and the Rocky Mountains.
Nelsonites jonesi
Nelsonites jonesi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the subfamily Trechinae, a group that includes many cave-dwelling and ground-dwelling beetles. The genus Nelsonites is recognized within Carabidae, though specific details about this particular species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Nemotarsus elegans
Nemotarsus elegans is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1853. It belongs to the subfamily Lebiinae and tribe Cyclosomini. The species is known from North America, with occurrence records from the United States. Like other members of Carabidae, it is a predatory beetle.