The family Carabidae, also known as the slipper beetles, belongs to the order Coleoptera, which are beetles. This family includes more than 40,000 species worldwide, making the Carabidae one of the largest and most diverse groups of insects. Carabidae beetles are found in a wide variety of environments, from tropical rainforests to Arctic tundra. Their diversity is staggering, yet they share several common traits.
Family Carabidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Rhysodinae Laporte, 1840
- Tribe Clinidiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
- Tribe Dhysorini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
- Tribe Leoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
- Tribe Medisorini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1987
- Tribe Omoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1978
- Tribe Rhysodini Laporte, 1840
- Tribe Sloanoglymmiini R.T. Bell & J.R. Bell, 1991
Subfamily Nebriinae Laporte, 1834
- Tribe Nebriini Laporte, 1834
- Tribe Notiokasiini Kavanaugh & Negre, 1983
- Tribe Notiophilini Motschulsky, 1850
- Tribe Opisthiini Dupuis, 1912
- Tribe Pelophilini Kavanaugh, 1996
Subfamily Carabinae Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Carabini Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Ceroglossini Lapouge, 1927
- Tribe Cychrini Perty, 1830
- Tribe Pamborini Hope, 1838
Subfamily Loricerinae Bonelli, 1810
Subfamily Omophroninae Bonelli, 1810
Subfamily Elaphrinae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Migadopinae Chaudoir, 1861
- Tribe Amarotypini Erwin, 1985
- Tribe Migadopini Chaudoir, 1861
Subfamily Hiletinae Schiodte, 1847
Subfamily Scaritinae Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Carenini W.J. MacLeay, 1887
- Tribe Clivinini Rafinesque, 1815
- Tribe Dalyatini Mateu, 2002
- Tribe Dyschiriini Kolbe, 1880
- Tribe Forcipatorini Bänninger, 1938
- Tribe Palaeoaxinidiini McKay, 1991†
- Tribe Pasimachini Putzeys, 1867
- Tribe Promecognathini J.L. LeConte, 1853
- Tribe Salcediini Alluaud, 1930 (1929)
- Tribe Scaritini Bonelli, 1810
Subfamily Broscinae Hope, 1838
- Tribe Broscini Hope, 1838
Subfamily Apotominae J.L. LeConte, 1853
Subfamily Siagoninae Bonelli, 1813
- Tribe Enceladini G.H. Horn, 1881
- Tribe Lupercini Lecordier, 1977
- Tribe Siagonini Bonelli, 1813
Subfamily Melaeninae Csiki, 1933
Subfamily Gehringiinae Darlington, 1933
- Tribe Gehringiini Darlington, 1933
Subfamily Trechinae Bonelli, 1810 1313
- Tribe Anillini Jeannel, 1937
- Tribe Bembidarenini Maddison & Erwin, 2019
- Tribe Bembidiini Stephens, 1827
- Tribe Horologionini Jeannel, 1949
- Tribe Lovriciini Giachino et al., 2011
- Tribe Pogonini Laporte, 1834
- Tribe Sinozolini Deuve, 1997
- Tribe Tachyini Motschulsky, 1862
- Tribe Trechini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Zolini Sharp, 1886
Subfamily Patrobinae W. Kirby, 1837
- Tribe Lissopogonini Zamotajlov, 2000
- Tribe Patrobini W. Kirby, 1837
Subfamily Psydrinae J.L. LeConte, 1853
- Tribe Moriomorphini Sloane, 1890 1414
- Tribe Psydrini J.L. LeConte, 1853
Subfamily Nototylinae Bänninger, 1927
Subfamily Paussinae Latreille, 1806
- Tribe Metriini J.L. LeConte, 1853
- Tribe Microzaenini Deuve, 2020
- Tribe Mystropomini G.H. Horn, 1881
- Tribe Ozaenini Hope, 1838
- Tribe Paussini Latreille, 1806
- Tribe Protopaussini Gestro, 1892
Subfamily Cicindinae Csiki, 1927
Subfamily Brachininae Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Brachinini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Crepidogastrini Jeannel, 1949
Subfamily Harpalinae Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Abacetini Chaudoir, 1873
- Tribe Amorphomerini Sloane, 1923
- Tribe Anthiini Bonelli, 1813
- Tribe Atranini G.H. Horn, 1881 1818
- Tribe Bascanini Basilewsky, 1953
- Tribe Calophaenini Jeannel, 1948
- Tribe Catapieseini H.W. Bates, 1882
- Tribe Chaetodactylini Tschitschérine, 1903 H
- Tribe Chaetogenyini Emden, 1958
- Tribe Chlaeniini Brullé, 1834
- Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911
- Tribe Corsyrini Ganglbauer, 1891
- Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854
- Tribe Ctenodactylini Laporte, 1834 H
- Tribe Cuneipectini Sloane, 1907
- Tribe Cyclosomini Laporte, 1834
- Tribe Dercylini Sloane, 1923
- Tribe Drimostomatini Chaudoir, 1872
- Tribe Dryptini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Enoicini Basilewsky, 1985
- Tribe Galeritini W. Kirby, 1825
- Tribe Geobaenini Péringuey, 1896
- Tribe Ginemini Ball & Shpeley, 2002
- Tribe Glyptini G.H. Horn, 1881 H
- Tribe Graphipterini Latreille, 1802
- Tribe Harpalini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Helluonini Hope, 1838
- Tribe Hexagoniini G.H. Horn, 1881 (1834)
- Tribe Idiomorphini H.W. Bates, 1891
- Tribe Lachnophorini J.L. LeConte, 1853
- Tribe Lebiini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Licinini Bonelli, 1810 H
- Tribe Masoreini Chaudoir, 1871
- Tribe Melanchitonini Jeannel, 1948
- Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948
- Tribe Morionini Brullé, 1835
- Tribe Odacanthini Laporte, 1834 1919
- Tribe Omphreini Ganglbauer, 1891
- Tribe Oodini LaFerté-Sénectere, 1851
- Tribe Orthogoniini Schaum, 1857
- Tribe Panagaeini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Peleciini Chaudoir, 1880
- Tribe Perigonini G.H. Horn, 1881 [NP]
- Tribe Physocrotaphini Chaudoir, 1863
- Tribe Platynini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Pseudomorphini Hope, 1838
- Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Sphodrini Laporte, 1834
- Tribe Xenaroswellianini Erwin, 2007
- Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810
- Tribe Zuphiini Bonelli, 1810
One of the common features of Carabidae is their predatory lifestyle. Most species hunt and consume other insects, but some specialize in more specific foods such as snails or slugs. As a result, these beetles play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the populations of other insect groups.
These beetles are generally medium to large with sturdy bodies and strong legs adapted for fast running. Their trusses, or forewings, are tough and protect their hind wings and hind legs. The body colour of the slipper beetles ranges from glossy black to metallic green, blue or bronze.
Sow bugs have well-developed eyesight and an excellent ability to detect vibrations and chemical signals from their surroundings. As a result, they are able to effectively locate prey even in the dark or in dense vegetation. Some species even use pheromones to communicate with other individuals of their species.
Carabidae have a very interesting life cycle. The female lays her eggs in the soil or among plant debris, where the larvae hatch. These larvae feed on other insects and go through several developmental stages before pupating and metamorphosing into the adult beetle. This process can take several months to several years, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Research on the Carabidae can provide useful insights into ecology, evolution and conservation. Their diversity, adaptations to different environments and interactions with other organisms make them a fascinating object of study for entomologists and the general public. Moreover, these beetles can be used as a biological indicator of environmental quality, as their presence often signals a healthy and stable ecosystem.