Ground-beetle
Guides
Poecilus diplophryus
Poecilus diplophryus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Chaudoir in 1876. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized carabid beetles commonly found in agricultural and open habitats. The species has been documented in North and Middle America, with records from the United States. Like other Poecilus species, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator sensitive to soil disturbance regimes.
Poecilus laetulus
Poecilus laetulus is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a soil-dwelling predator associated with agricultural and open habitats. The species is rarely recorded, with only three observations documented on iNaturalist.
Poecilus lucublandus
Woodland Ground Beetle
Poecilus lucublandus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. It is one of several Poecilus species found in woodland and forested habitats. The species has been documented in studies examining the effects of agricultural practices on beneficial ground beetle populations, where it serves as a useful indicator of environmental disturbance. Two subspecies are recognized: P. l. lucublandus and P. l. manhattanis.
Poecilus scitulus
woodland ground beetle
Poecilus scitulus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the genus Poecilus, a group of predatory beetles commonly found in agricultural and woodland habitats. The species has been documented in Central America and North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological details remain limited in published sources.
Pogonodaptus mexicanus
Pogonodaptus mexicanus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Bates in 1878. It is distributed across Central America and North America. As a member of the tribe Stenolophini, it belongs to a group of small to medium-sized carabid beetles often associated with open, disturbed habitats. The genus Pogonodaptus is not well-documented in published literature, and specific biological details for this species remain limited.
Pogonus texanus
Pogonus texanus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Chaudoir in 1868. It is found in North America, with records from the United States. As a member of the genus Pogonus, it belongs to a group of carabid beetles typically associated with wetland and riparian habitats. Specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Polpochila capitata
Polpochila capitata is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was originally described as Melanotus capitatus by Chaudoir in 1852 and later transferred to the genus Polpochila. The species is known from North America, with records from Mexico and the United States. As a member of Carabidae, it belongs to a large family of predatory beetles commonly found in terrestrial habitats.
Polyderis laeva
Polyderis laeva is a small ground beetle (Carabidae) currently treated as a junior synonym of Tachys laevus. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823 from North American material. Like other members of the tribe Bembidiini, it belongs to a diverse group of minute carabids often associated with moist microhabitats. The genus Polyderis is now generally subsumed within Tachys, reflecting ongoing taxonomic revision in this challenging group.
Porotachys bisulcatus
Porotachys bisulcatus is a small ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Nicolai in 1822. It belongs to the tribe Bembidiini, a diverse group of predominantly small carabids often associated with riparian and moist habitats. The species has a notably broad distribution spanning multiple continents, including North America, Europe, Africa, and temperate Asia. Its wide geographic range suggests either strong dispersal capabilities or a generalist ecological profile.
Promecognathus
Promecognathus is a genus of ground beetles comprising two described species, P. laevissimus and P. crassus. These beetles are specialist predators of cyanide-producing flat-backed millipedes in the family Xystodesmidae. They possess exceptional physiological tolerance to hydrogen cyanide, surviving doses 7–15 times greater than those lethal to other carabid beetles. This tolerance allows them to attack millipedes directly without behavioral avoidance of chemical defenses, representing the first documented case of cyanide tolerance in predatory insects.
Promecognissimus laevissimus
smooth millipede hunter
Promecognathus laevissimus is a ground beetle specializing in predation on cyanide-producing millipedes. It possesses exceptional physiological tolerance to hydrogen cyanide and benzaldehyde, toxins that incapacitate most other predators. The species exhibits unique prey-handling behaviors and has been extensively studied for its biochemical resistance mechanisms, which may have potential applications in human medicine for cyanide poisoning treatment.
Pseudamara
Pseudamara is a monotypic genus of ground beetles (Carabidae) established by Lindroth in 1968. The genus contains a single species, Pseudamara arenaria, a small carabid beetle in the tribe Zabrini. It is known from limited records in the northeastern United States.
Pseudamara arenaria
Pseudamara arenaria is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, tribe Zabrini. It is recorded from Canada and the United States. The specific epithet "arenaria" suggests a possible association with sandy habitats, though this has not been confirmed by direct observation. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases.
Pseudanophthalmus cerberus cerberus
Pseudanophthalmus cerberus cerberus is a subspecies of troglobitic ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to a genus of small, eyeless beetles adapted to life in caves. The subspecies was described by Barr in 1985 and is currently accepted as valid. Like other members of Pseudanophthalmus, it is likely restricted to subterranean habitats in the eastern United States.
Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani
Hoffman's Cave Beetle
Pseudanophthalmus hoffmani, known as Hoffman's cave beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to Virginia, United States. The species belongs to a genus of troglobitic beetles specialized for subterranean environments.
Pseudanophthalmus nelsoni
Nelson's Cave Beetle
Pseudanophthalmus nelsoni is a small, eyeless ground beetle in the family Carabidae. Described by Barr in 1965, this troglobitic species inhabits cave systems in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits adaptations to subterranean life including reduced or absent eyes and pale coloration. The species is named in honor of an individual associated with its discovery or study.
Pseudanophthalmus robustus
Pseudanophthalmus robustus is a species of small carabid beetle in the tribe Trechini, first described by Valentine in 1931. The genus Pseudanophthalmus comprises eyeless or nearly eyeless ground beetles, many of which are troglobitic (cave-dwelling) species. This species is endemic to the United States, with distribution records limited to North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits subterranean environments including caves and deep soil habitats.
Pseudanophthalmus tenuis
Blue River cave beetle
Pseudanophthalmus tenuis is a small, eyeless ground beetle endemic to karst cave systems in Indiana, United States. Formerly considered to contain multiple subspecies, these have been elevated to full species status under Pseudanophthalmus stricticollis. The species is part of a genus specialized for subterranean life, with reduced visual structures and elongated appendages adapted to darkness.
Pseudaptinus lecontei
Pseudaptinus lecontei is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, with records from the United States. The species was originally described as Diaphorus lecontei by Dejean in 1831. As a member of Carabidae, it belongs to a diverse family of predatory beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Pseudaptinus tenuicollis
Pseudaptinus tenuicollis is a ground beetle species described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1851. It belongs to the tribe Harpalini within the large family Carabidae. The species is distributed across parts of North and Central America, with records from the United States and Mexico. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting it may be uncommon or underreported.
Pseudomorpha excrucians
Pseudomorpha excrucians is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by William Kirby in 1823. It belongs to the subfamily Pseudomorphinae, a group of carabid beetles whose members are often associated with ant colonies. The genus Pseudomorpha is restricted to the New World, and this species occurs in the United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits myrmecophilous (ant-associated) behavior, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Psydrus piceus
Psydrus piceus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subfamily Psydrinae. The genus Psydrus is a small group within Carabidae, and P. piceus represents one of the few described species in this genus. The species has been documented in North America, with records from both the United States and Canada.
Pterostichus adoxus
Pterostichus adoxus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, commonly referred to as a woodland ground beetle. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The larvae are predatory, consistent with the general feeding ecology of many carabid beetles. The species was described by Thomas Broun in 1908.
Pterostichus adstrictus
Upland Blackclock
Pterostichus adstrictus is a cold-adapted ground beetle with a Holarctic-circumpolar distribution, occurring across subarctic and alpine regions of North America and Eurasia. In North America it ranges from the Bering Sea coast to Newfoundland and south to Pennsylvania, Indiana, South Dakota, New Mexico, and California's Sierra Nevada. European populations were historically known only from northern peripheries (Northern Ireland, Wales, Scandinavia) until discovery in the Austrian Alps, representing a glacial relict with arctic-alpine distribution. The species exhibits stenotopic habitat specificity and has been observed to form locally dense populations despite restricted geographic occurrence.
Pterostichus agonus
Pterostichus agonus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by G.H. Horn in 1880. The species exhibits a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. Two subspecies are recognized: P. a. agonus and P. a. averenskii. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of woodland ground beetles characterized by their elongated body form and predatory habits.
Pterostichus amethystinus
Pterostichus amethystinus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Mannerheim in 1843. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, a diverse group of predatory beetles commonly known as woodland ground beetles. The species is distributed across northern North America including Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. As with other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal predator inhabiting forest floor habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Pterostichus angustus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus angustus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle, indicating association with forested habitats. The species was originally described by Dejean in 1828 under the basionym Feronia angusta. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is likely a nocturnal, predatory beetle, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pterostichus atratus
Pterostichus atratus is a woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species is sometimes classified in the genus Abacidus rather than Pterostichus, reflecting ongoing taxonomic uncertainty. It occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada. As a member of Carabidae, it is presumed to be a ground-dwelling, predatory beetle typical of forest habitats.
Pterostichus barri
Pterostichus barri is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Bousquet in 2006. It belongs to a large genus of woodland ground beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from North America, though detailed information about its biology and ecology remains limited.
Pterostichus barryorum
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus barryorum is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Ball in 1962. It is one of many species within the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous woodland-dwelling carabid beetles found across North America. The species is recorded from Alaska, Canada, and the United States.
Pterostichus brevicornis
Woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus brevicornis is a circumpolar ground beetle in the family Carabidae, subgenus Cryobius. It is one of the most abundant and widespread tundra beetles, occurring across Arctic and Subarctic regions from Newfoundland to the Kola Peninsula and Arctic Ocean islands. The species exhibits high genetic and morphological variability across its range, with 23 documented COI haplotypes. It is cold-adapted with a two-year life cycle involving summer breeding and winter hibernation of both adults and larvae.
Pterostichus caligans
Pterostichus caligans is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by Horn in 1891. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous predatory ground beetles distributed across North America. Very little specific information about this particular species has been documented in the available literature. Records indicate it occurs in the United States, though detailed biological studies appear to be lacking.
Pterostichus caribou
Pterostichus caribou is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Ball in 1962. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. The species is recorded from North America and inhabits woodland environments. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a predatory beetle active on the ground surface.
Pterostichus caudicalis
Pterostichus caudicalis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and occurs in North America, with distribution records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a predatory beetle that inhabits forest floor environments. The species is part of the diverse Pterostichinae subfamily, which contains numerous ground-dwelling carabid beetles.
Pterostichus circulosus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus circulosus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Lindroth in 1966. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous woodland-dwelling carabid beetles. The species is known from North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely inhabits forest floor habitats where it functions as a generalist predator.
Pterostichus commutabilis
Pterostichus commutabilis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. First described by Motschulsky in 1866 under the basionym Loxandrus commutabilis, this beetle is classified as a woodland ground beetle. The species is known from distribution records in Canada and the United States.
Pterostichus congestus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus congestus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, particularly in Alaska and the northern United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle adapted to woodland habitats. The species was described by Ménétriés in 1843.
Pterostichus costatus
Pterostichus costatus is a woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs across a broad holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America. The species inhabits forested environments and is part of a large genus of ground beetles characterized by relatively robust body forms.
Pterostichus crenicollis
Pterostichus crenicollis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1873. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, one of the most diverse genera within the carabid subfamily Pterostichinae. The species is documented from North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a ground-dwelling predator inhabiting woodland environments.
Pterostichus diana
Pterostichus diana is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by LaBonte in 2013. It belongs to the genus Pterostichus, a large and diverse group of predatory beetles commonly found in North American terrestrial habitats. As a recently described species, detailed biological information remains limited.
Pterostichus diligendus
Pterostichus diligendus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1868. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous woodland-dwelling species. The species is documented from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a predatory beetle associated with forest floor habitats.
Pterostichus ebeninus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus ebeninus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Dejean in 1828. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and is found in North America, specifically in Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous similar-looking ground beetle species that require careful examination for identification. Information on its specific biology and ecology remains limited.
Pterostichus empetricola
Pterostichus empetricola is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and North America including Alaska, Canada, and the United States. The species is part of the diverse genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species.
Pterostichus femoralis
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus femoralis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a large and diverse group of predatory ground beetles commonly associated with woodland habitats. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Pterostichus fuchsi
Pterostichus fuchsi is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Schaeffer in 1910. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous predatory beetles distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. Available records indicate a North American distribution, specifically within the United States.
Pterostichus hypogeus
Pterostichus hypogeus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Barr in 1971. The species is found in North America and is classified as a woodland ground beetle.
Pterostichus inanis
Pterostichus inanis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1891. It is classified within the large genus Pterostichus, one of the most diverse genera of carabid beetles in North America. The species is known from woodland habitats and has been documented in Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a predatory beetle active on the ground surface, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Pterostichus inermis
Pterostichus inermis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Fall in 1901. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, a group of predatory beetles commonly found in North America. The species epithet 'inermis' (Latin for 'unarmed') suggests a lack of prominent defensive structures. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal, ground-dwelling predator.
Pterostichus johnsoni
Johnson's Waterfall Carabid Beetle
Pterostichus johnsoni is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Ulke in 1889. The species is known from the United States and is associated with waterfall habitats, as indicated by its common name. Very few observations exist in public databases, with only three records documented on iNaturalist. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous similar ground beetles that can be difficult to distinguish without close examination.
Pterostichus kotzebuei
Pterostichus kotzebuei is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Ball in 1962. The species is found in North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a woodland ground beetle.