Carabinae

Carabinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Carabidae, commonly known as ground beetles. Members of Carabinae are among the largest and most conspicuous ground beetles, with the genus Carabus serving as the type genus. The group is globally distributed but most diverse in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. They occupy a range of habitats from forests and grasslands to mountains and edges of water, usually on the ground or in leaf litter and decaying wood.

Morphology and taxonomy: Carabinae beetles are typically elongated with well-developed mandibles and often strong, grooved elytra. Many species exhibit metallic coloration. A notable widespread feature is that many Carabinae are flightless, with reduced or fused wings, though some genera retain functional wings. The subfamily contains multiple genera, including Carabus and Calosoma; classification within Carabidae has varied over time as a result of phylogenetic studies, and boundaries between subfamilies and tribes have shifted.

Ecology: They are predominantly terrestrial predators, active hunters of other invertebrates. They forage at night and during the day in some species, depending on the habitat. Calosoma, for example, includes caterpillar hunters that can be important in controlling herbivorous pests in forests and orchards. The life cycle typically includes egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages, with larvae often predatory as well.

Conservation and human interactions: Because they rely on natural habitats, Carabinae are affected by habitat loss and environmental changes. Some species have been used in biological control programs in the past, notably Calosoma sycophanta introductions against the gypsy moth, though outcomes varied. Overall, several species are recognized as being of conservation concern, while others remain common residents of many ecosystems.