Ground-beetle
Guides
Pterostichus lachrymosus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus lachrymosus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described as Feronia lachrymosa by Newman in 1838. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and occurs in North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Holarctic region.
Pterostichus lama
giant woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus lama is a large, flightless ground beetle native to western North America. Adults measure 15–29 mm and are uniformly black with strong mandibles. The species inhabits woodland environments and has been documented feeding on termites and ants. It occurs in California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia.
Pterostichus luctuosus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus luctuosus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada and the United States. The species was described by Desbrochers des Loges in 1906. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles commonly associated with forest and woodland habitats.
Pterostichus melanarius
Rain Beetle
Pterostichus melanarius, commonly known as the rain beetle, is a ground beetle native to Europe that has become established in North America following introduction in the 1920s. Adults are 12–18 mm long, black with straight elytral striations, and exhibit wing dimorphism with both flight-capable (macropterous) and flightless (brachypterous) morphs. The species is a generalist predator of invertebrates, with documented preference for slugs including the invasive gray garden slug Deroceras reticulatum. It occupies diverse habitats including forests, meadows, urban areas, and agricultural fields, and has been widely studied for its potential as a biological control agent.
Pterostichus menetriesii
Pterostichus menetriesii is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is endemic to North America, with records from the United States. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.
Pterostichus moestus
Pterostichus moestus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous ground beetle species with predominantly nocturnal habits.
Pterostichus morionides
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus morionides is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Chaudoir in 1868. It is found in North America, where it inhabits woodland habitats. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle, though specific ecological details remain limited in published literature.
Pterostichus mutus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus mutus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. First described by Thomas Say in 1823, this beetle is found in North America, with confirmed records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the large genus Pterostichus, it inhabits woodland environments where it contributes to ground-dwelling beetle assemblages.
Pterostichus neobrunneus
Pterostichus neobrunneus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Carl Lindroth in 1966. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous woodland-dwelling species. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal predator inhabiting forest floor habitats.
Pterostichus nigrocaeruleus
Pterostichus nigrocaeruleus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Van Dyke in 1926. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous nocturnal predatory beetles. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a generalist predator active in forested and terrestrial habitats.
Pterostichus novus
Pterostichus novus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Straneo in 1944. The species is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles commonly associated with forested habitats.
Pterostichus palmi
Pterostichus palmi is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, first described by Schaeffer in 1910. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous species of predatory beetles. The species is recorded from the United States, with distribution data indicating presence in North America. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a nocturnal, ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Pterostichus parasimilis
Pterostichus parasimilis is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Ball in 1962. It is distributed across the Holarctic region, with records from Alaska, Canada, Russia, and the United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle typically associated with forest floor habitats.
Pterostichus patruelis
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus patruelis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species is classified as a woodland ground beetle, indicating its association with forested habitats. It is part of the large and diverse genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. The species was originally described by Dejean in 1831.
Pterostichus permundus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus permundus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, originally described by Say in 1830. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species was formerly placed in the genus Abacidus but is currently recognized under Pterostichus. As a member of the subfamily Pterostichinae, it belongs to a diverse group of carabid beetles often associated with forested habitats.
Pterostichus pinguedineus
Pterostichus pinguedineus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Eschscholtz in 1823. It belongs to the genus Pterostichus, one of the largest genera of carabid beetles. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern regions of North America, Europe, and Northern Asia.
Pterostichus praetermissus
Pterostichus praetermissus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was first described by Chaudoir in 1868 under the basionym Feronia praetermissa. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly known as ground beetles.
Pterostichus protractus
Pterostichus protractus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1860. It is found in North America, with records from both Canada and the United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it is part of a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly referred to as woodland ground beetles.
Pterostichus pumilus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus pumilus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Thomas L. Casey in 1913. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Two subspecies are recognized: Pterostichus pumilus pumilus and Pterostichus pumilus willamettensis. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a large group of ground beetles commonly associated with woodland habitats.
Pterostichus pumilus pumilus
Pterostichus pumilus pumilus is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, a diverse group of predatory beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The nominate subspecies P. p. pumilus was described by Casey in 1913.
Pterostichus pumilus willamettensis
Pterostichus pumilus willamettensis is a subspecies of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Hacker in 1968. The subspecies belongs to the widespread genus Pterostichus, which contains numerous ground beetle species primarily distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. As a member of the subfamily Pterostichinae, it is likely adapted to ground-dwelling predatory habits typical of this group.
Pterostichus punctatissimus
Pterostichus punctatissimus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America, with documented occurrence in Canada and the United States. The species was originally described as Feronia punctatissima by Randall in 1838. Its image has been widely reused in open access scientific publishing, with approximately 1400 uses on Wikimedia platforms, making it one of the most frequently reused beetle images from Pensoft publications.
Pterostichus putus
Pterostichus putus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae, described by Casey in 1913. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous species of predatory beetles distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse North American carabid fauna. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a ground-dwelling predator, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pterostichus relictus
Pterostichus relictus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. The species was described by Newman in 1838, though a later homonym by Aubry (1979) has been synonymized. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to one of the largest and most diverse genera of ground beetles, often associated with forested habitats.
Pterostichus restrictus
Pterostichus restrictus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It was described by Casey in 1918. The species is known from the United States, with records indicating presence in North America. Very little detailed information is available about its biology, habitat preferences, or ecology.
Pterostichus riparius
Pterostichus riparius is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is classified within the genus Pterostichus, a large and diverse group of carabid beetles commonly known as woodland ground beetles. The species is found in North America, with records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States.
Pterostichus rostratus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus rostratus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. The species was first described by Newman in 1838 under the basionym Feronia rostrata. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle associated with woodland habitats.
Pterostichus sayanus
Pterostichus sayanus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It belongs to the genus Pterostichus, a large and diverse group of woodland ground beetles. The species is found in North America. Beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic distribution, detailed information about its biology and ecology appears limited in available sources.
Pterostichus sculptus
Pterostichus sculptus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and is found in North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1853. It is currently recognized as a synonym of Abacidus sculptus in some taxonomic databases, though it remains listed under Pterostichus in other sources.
Pterostichus similis
Pterostichus similis is a species of 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 woodland environments and is part of the diverse Pterostichus genus, one of the largest genera of ground beetles.
Pterostichus sphodrinus
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus sphodrinus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, one of the most diverse genera of carabid beetles in North America. The species is documented from woodland habitats across North America.
Pterostichus strenuus
Rough-chested Blackclock
Pterostichus strenuus is a woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring in North America, Europe, and temperate Asia. It is one of many Pterostichus species adapted to forest floor habitats. Taxonomic authorities vary, with some sources listing Erichson (1837) and others Panzer (1796) or LeConte (1853).
Pterostichus stygicus
Woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus stygicus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to North America. It inhabits deciduous forest floor environments where it functions as a generalist predator. The species has been studied for its competitive interactions and intraguild predation relationships with centipedes, particularly Scolopocryptops sexspinosus.
Pterostichus subacutus
Pterostichus subacutus is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous woodland-dwelling carabid beetles.
Pterostichus superciliosus
Pterostichus superciliosus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of ground beetles commonly encountered in forested habitats.
Pterostichus surgens
Pterostichus surgens is a ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by LeConte in 1878. The species belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which is part of the diverse carabid beetle fauna of North America. Like other members of its genus, it is a predatory beetle. The species has been recorded in Canada and the United States.
Pterostichus tarsalis
woodland ground beetle
Pterostichus tarsalis is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is classified as a woodland ground beetle and occurs in North America. The species was described by LeConte in 1873. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a large and diverse group of carabid beetles commonly found in forested habitats.
Pterostichus trinarius
Pterostichus trinarius is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is native to North America, with distribution records from the United States. The species is classified as a woodland ground beetle, indicating association with forested habitats. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly known as woodland ground beetles.
Pterostichus tumescens
Pterostichus tumescens is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1863. It belongs to the large genus Pterostichus, which comprises numerous species of predatory beetles distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from the United States and is part of the diverse North American carabid fauna.
Pterostichus ventralis
Pterostichus ventralis is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It occurs in North America, with records from the United States. Like other members of the genus Pterostichus, it is a ground-dwelling beetle typically associated with forested habitats. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823.
Pterostichus ventricosus
Pterostichus ventricosus is a species of woodland ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Alaska, Canada, and the contiguous United States. The species was described by Eschscholtz in 1823. It belongs to the subgenus Cryobius within the genus Pterostichus, a diverse group of ground beetles.
Pterostichus vermiculosus
Pterostichus vermiculosus is a ground beetle species in the family Carabidae with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. In Russia, it has been documented in tundra habitats including lichen moss tundra, shrub tundra, and tundra lowlands. The species was described by Ménétriés in 1851.
Pterostichus vicinus
A species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, native to western North America. Records indicate presence in the USA, with observations documented in the western United States. As a member of the genus Pterostichus, it belongs to a diverse group of carabid beetles commonly found in forested and montane habitats. The species was described by Mannerheim in 1843.
Quedius cinctus
banded rove beetle
Quedius cinctus is a large rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae. It is native to Europe and parts of Asia and North Africa, with introduced populations in eastern North America. The species is characterized by its relatively large size among rove beetles and the distinctive banded pattern on its elytra. Like other members of its genus, it is a ground-dwelling predator found in forested and riparian habitats.
Quedius fulvicollis
Quedius fulvicollis is a rove beetle (family Staphylinidae) described by Stephens in 1833. Originally placed in the genus Raphirus, it is now classified within the large genus Quedius. The species has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Iceland, and North America. As a member of Staphylininae, it likely occupies ground-dwelling habitats and contributes to decomposition processes, though specific ecological studies are limited.
Rhadine
Rhadine is a genus of ground beetles (Carabidae: Platyninae) described by LeConte in 1846. Many species are troglobitic, restricted to cave habitats in North America, particularly in Texas. Several species, including R. exilis and R. infernalis, are federally listed as endangered due to their restricted ranges and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. The genus is named after a figure from Greek mythology.
Rhadine austinica
Rhadine austinica is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, described by Barr in 1974. It belongs to the genus Rhadine, which includes several cave-dwelling species found in North America. The genus is notable for containing endangered species that inhabit karst cave systems in Texas.
Rhadine babcocki
Rhadine babcocki is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is part of a genus containing cave-dwelling species found in North America. The genus Rhadine includes several federally listed endangered species that inhabit cave systems in central Texas.
Rhadine dissecta
Rhadine dissecta is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae. It is found in North America. Like other members of the genus Rhadine, it is a cave-associated beetle. The species was described by LeConte in 1863.
Rhadine howdeni
Rhadine howdeni is a species of ground beetle in the family Carabidae, first described by Barr and Lawrence in 1960. It is found in North America, with distribution records from the United States. Like other members of the genus Rhadine, it is likely associated with subterranean or cave habitats, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented. The genus Rhadine includes several federally endangered cave-dwelling species that serve as important indicators of cave ecosystem health.