Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Taxa

Carabidae

Insect Families

Carabidae, commonly called ground beetles, is a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles with more than 40,000 species worldwide, around 2,000 of which occur in North America and 2,700 in Europe, making it one of the ten most species-rich animal families as of 2015. Members belong to the suborder Adephaga and are mostly carnivorous, though some species are herbivorous or omnivorous.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Family 1
Scientific Name
Carabidae 1
Member Species/Taxa Count
40,000 1
Geographic Distribution
Cosmopolitan, with more than 40,000 species worldwide; about 2,000 species occur in North America and 2,700 in Europe. 1
Defining Characteristics
Members of the family are primarily carnivorous, though some are herbivorous or omnivorous, and most have paired pygidial glands producing noxious or caustic defensive secretions, as in the bombardier beetles. 1
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Most ground beetles are shiny black or metallic in color, with ridged wing covers (elytra) that are fused into flight-incapable cases in some large Carabinae. 1
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 2
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Bombardier Beetle, Species
Source Wikidata: Bombardier Beetle
In the Other Atlases
  • Also in Geography Atlas: Europe, found in there.
  • Also in Geography Atlas: North America, found in there.
Sources
1. Carabidae (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Lead section, first sentence
    Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles, the Carabidae, with more than 40,000 species worldwide, around 2,000 of which are found in North America and 2,700 in Europe.
  • Lead section, fourth sentence
    Members of the family are primarily carnivorous, but some members are herbivorous or omnivorous.
  • Description and ecology section, first sentence
    Although their body shapes and coloring vary somewhat, most are shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra).
View the Source
2. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ27046, descriptionView the Source
Wikidata: Carabidae
Wikidata Q27046, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Wikidata: Bombardier Beetle
Parent Taxon Of: Bombardier Beetle, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.