reddidimus

Reddidimus is a genus of ground beetles in the family Carabidae. It was first described in 2012 from specimens collected in montane cloud forests of the Andes in Peru and adjacent areas. The genus currently includes two described species, with reddidimus ruber designated as the type species. The etymology of the genus name is not stated in the original description.

Reddidimus beetles are medium-sized, typically 9 to 12 mm long, and have a glossy reddish dorsum. The pronotum is relatively broad, and the elytra show shallow longitudinal striae with a metallic sheen. The head bears large mandibles and prominent eyes; legs are sturdy with tarsi adapted for leaf-litter locomotion. These features distinguish reddidimus from closely related genera in the same region.

Known from the Andean foothills and cloud forests of Peru and Ecuador, reddidimus species inhabit leaf litter and mossy logs in humid, cool microhabitats. They are nocturnal and predatory, feeding on small invertebrates such as insect larvae and mites.

Within Carabidae, reddidimus is placed in the subfamily Harpalinae; its precise tribe is not yet resolved pending further phylogenetic work. The genus is currently considered to be endemic to the northern Andes, with limited material available for study.

Conservation status is not assessed by major databases, due to the limited known range and relatively few collected specimens. Ongoing surveys of Andean beetle fauna aim to clarify species boundaries and distribution. The genus and species were described in a 2012 taxonomic article; a subsequent revision proposed additional morphological characters for differentiation.