Carabus

Carabus is a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae, subfamily Carabinae. It comprises hundreds of described species, with estimates commonly around 900, making it one of the larger genera of ground beetles. Members are typically medium to large in size and often have metallic or iridescent elytra, long legs, and prominent mandibles.

Most Carabus species are ground-dwelling, nocturnal predators. They forage on other invertebrates, including snails, insects, and larvae. A large portion of temperate species are flightless, with hind wings reduced or fused under the hardened elytra, which influences their dispersal and population structure; a minority retain functional wings.

The genus has a wide distribution in the Holarctic region, with the greatest species richness in Europe and Asia. A number of species occur in North America, some introduced. Habitats range from temperate forests and woodlands to grasslands, wetlands, and alpine zones. They prefer moist, leaf-litter-rich environments where prey is abundant.

Life cycle follows complete metamorphosis: eggs laid in soil, larvae that are predatory, and pupae that develop into winged or wingless adults. Adults are often most active during warm nights and can live for several years in favorable conditions.

Taxonomically, Carabus is a large, diverse genus within Carabidae, with numerous subgenera and regional faunas. Several species are used as bioindicators of habitat quality and environmental change, and some are threatened by habitat loss and collection pressures in rare habitats. The genus is also of interest to biogeographers and evolutionary biologists studying diversification in the Northern Hemisphere.