| Carabus problematicus (Herbst, 1786) |
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Scientific name: Carabus problematicus (Herbst, 1786) Common name: French name: Carabe problématique, Carabe des forêts. Order: Coleoptera Family: Carabidae Wingspan : 18 - 32 mm. Biotope: Damp forests. Geographic area: Europe. Observation period : February to October |
Carabus' elytra are fused together so they are not able to fly. Carabus problematicus is a purple black colour. The margin of the pronotum and of the elytra are blue, purple or seldom greenish. The pronotum is slightly wider than long. It is entirely punctuated. The lateral edges are rounded at the front and straighter or just slightly curved at the back. The back edge is straight and upcurved with a well developed lobe on each side. Costae on the elytra are used to tell the numerous species and subspecies apart. Each elytron is generally divided into four parts by three longitudinal primary costae. Each part may show additional secondary and tertiary costae. On Carabus problematicus the primary costae are interrupted and appear as an alignment of dashes. You can see 3 additional costae between two primary costae and between one primary costae and the edge (one tertiary, one secondary, one tertiary). They are all the same size as the primary costae but they are uninterrupted. Among the similar species let's mention Carabus violaceus whose purpurascens subspecies shows finely striated elytra. It is a larger size and the overall shape is more lengthy. The back edge of the pronotum is not upturned and the two lobes are more distant from each other than on problematicus. Let' also mention Carabus intricatus. Its pronotum is thinner. The elytral sculpture is irregular. The elytra are wider at the back and show a rather pointed tip. You can recognize males with their swollen fore leg tarsi. Carabus are nocturnal insects which feed on worms, caterpillars, snails and slugs. The larvae feed on the same preys as adults. |
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I have disturbed this Carabus during its diurnal rest under a pile of flower pots. I have not been able to see the interrupted primary costae, nor the uninterrupted secondary and tertiary costae. Still missing some experience I am not 100% confident about this species identification. I have mainly told this species apart based on the shape of the pronotum and based on the shape of the elytra. |
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The swollen fore leg tarsi indicate one male. |
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I have put down this Carabus among grasses so that it goes and finds another hide. It is carrying one mite on its head. |
André Bon November 2013