Beetles (Coleoptera) of Peru: A Survey of the Families. Carabidae

Diversity: 23 tribes, 131 genera, 721 species. The family Carabidae, commonly known as “Ground Beetles,” is one of the ten largest beetle families and is the largest family in the coleopteran suborder Adephaga. This family was erected by Latreille in 1802 at which time it contained 29 genera. Today, the Carabidae contains an estimated 39,000 described species, in ca. 100 tribes and 1860 genera (Lorenz, 2005). Modern classifications of the Carabidae include groups that were previously ranked as families, such as Cicindelidae, Omophronidae, Paussidae, and Rhysodidae. Recognition: All adult carabids possess three features which distinguish them from other terrestrial beetles: the hind coxae are fixed in place, the hind coxae divide the first visible sternite of the abdomen, and they have an internal pair of glands in the abdomen used for generating defense chemicals. These glands cannot be seen externally; however, their use produces distinctive and powerful sprays and odors in many carabid lineages. Two carabid lineages, the Brachinini and Paussinae, are known as “Bombardier and False bombardier beetles, respectively” since they have the ability to explosively discharge defensive chemicals at temperatures of 55–100uC (Aneshansley et al., 1969). This type of defensive system is unique among the beetles (Bousquet and Larochelle, 1993).