Evergreen Natural History Database

Carabidae overview
Key to genera
Key to species

Identification:
Species are medium sized (7 - 15 mm). Distinguished from Pterostichus by non-crossed elytral epipleura at apex; serrate or denticulate claws. Elytra with at least two dorsal punctures on the third interval; tarsi glabrous above and with a more or less pronounced external longitudinal ridge.

Range:
Holarctic.

Natural History:
Species of Calathus occur on dry or moderately moist, usually open ground. Species vary in whether they hibernate as larvae, adults or both.

1a. Both third and fifth elytral intervals with dorsal punctures. Basal fovea of prothorax coarsely punctate C. fuscipes

1b. Only third interval with dorsal punctures. Prothorax impunctate or with fine, sparse punctures at base. C. grandicollis

References:

Kavanaugh, D. H. 1992. Carabid beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences Number 16. California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA.

Lindroth, C. H. 1961-1969. The ground beetles (Carabidae excl. Cicindelinae) of Canada and Alaska. Parts 1-6. Opuscula Entomologica xlviii + 1192 pp.

Last updated Wednesday, July 19, 2006, by Administrator