CA'RABUS, a genus of Coleopterous Insects, of the family Carabidm. This must not be confounded with the genus Carabns of Linnaeus, which according to many of the modern authors is divided into several families, and each of those families contains numerous genera. The necessity for sub-dividing the group called Carabus by Linnaeus will be seen when it is taken into consideration that there are probably now about 800 species discovered.
The genera Carabus, Tefflua, Procerua, Procrustes, and Calosoma, contain the largest species of the Carnivorous Beetles, and together appear to form a natural group : we will therefore here notice the distinguishing characteristics of each, omitting those of Calosoma, which will be gund under that head. These genera are usually arranged in succession as follows :— Tefflus, Procerua, Procrustes, Carabus, and Calosoma ; and their chief technical characters may be readily seen by the following table:— I. Anterior tarsi the same (or nearly so) in both sexes.
a. Labrum entire • . . . .
b. Labrum bilobate . . . Procerus.
2. Anterior tarsi with the three or four basal joints dilated in the males.
a. Labrum trilobate . . . . Procrustes.
b. Labrum . . . Carabus.
In Tens, Procerus, and Carabus, there is a simplo tooth-like pro cess in the emargination of the mentum ; whilst in Procrustes this process is broad and slightly notched at the apex. The terminal joint of the palpi in these genera is nearly triangular, and larger in the males than in the females. In Procerus this joint is much larger in pro portion than in either Carabus or Procrustes ; and in Tefflus it is most developed, and is of an elongate form, slightly convex anteriorly. (Fig. 2.) Tens Megerlei. The only species known of this genus is nearly two inches long, and is black ; the thorax is almost double the width of the head, slightly convex and rugose, and has the lateral and pos terior margins reflected; it is truncated anteriorly and posteriorly, and the lateral margins and posterior angles are rounded; the elytra are elongate-ovate, very convex, and furnished with seven smooth elevated longitudinal ridges, and in the space between these ridges there is a chain of small elevated tubercles; the legs and antennae are moderately long. This rare and conspicuous insect is found In Senegal and on the coast of Guinea.
Procerbs4 scabrosv. is about two inches in length, and in the broadest /art of the elytra about three-quarters of an inch in width, and of a bluish-black colour; the thorax is broad, truncated anteriorly and posteriorly, very slightly convex, and rugone; the elytra are oval, convex, and covered throughout with small tubercles. This is the largest of the carnivo rous beetles known.
lo Comte Dejean de scribesthree other speciesbe longing to this genus, which are all of a beautiful blue or violet colour above, and black beneath. The Proceri
are often found under dried leaves in the forests and on the mountains of Russia, Hungary, and Asia Minor : they are the giants of Euro pean Carabida.
Four species of the genus Procruetea have been de scribed, the largest of which, P. eoriaceits, is recorded as British; it is however so rare in this country as to have given rise to doubts as to its being strictly an in habitant in France and Germany it is tolerably com mon, and is found in woods. P. eoriateus is rather more than an inch and a half in I. length, and of a dull black colour; the thorax is nearly u. smooth ; the elytra are ru gose, and of an ovate form.
Of the genus Carabus upwards of 120 species have been described, the greater portion of which inhabits Europe, Siberia, Asia Minor, and the northern parts of Africa.
From the immense number of species Count Dejean has found it necessary in his descriptions to arrange them under 16 divisions, founded principally on the sculpture of the elytra. Mr. Stephens, in his 'Illustrations of British Entomology,' describes 17 species : the most common are—C. violaceta, C. monilis, C. eatenulatus, C. hortensia, C. eancellatua, and C. arrensia, all of which are tolerably abundant in the neighbourhood of London.
C. hortensis is very frequently met with on pathways (especially early in the morning), and not uncommonly with a worm in its jaws. It is about an inch long ; the head and thorax are of a copper-like hue, and the elytra are brassy-green ; the under parts of the body are black ; the elytra are faintly sculptured, and exhibit three longitudinal rows of impressions, and numerous rows of very delicate confluent punctures.
C. tie/ace:Ls is equally common with the last ; it is dull black, and has the margin of the elytra of a copper-like hue; this tint is also more or less observable on the thorax ; the olytra are very delicately punctured, and appear smooth to the naked eye, in which respect this species may be easily distinguished from C. catenulatus, which has the elytra distinctly sculptured. (I. eatenulatus also differs in form considerably from C. riolateua ; it is dull black, and has the thorax and margin:, of the elytra of a purple or blue colour. Its locality is heaths and commons, where it is found under clods of turf, &c.
C. cancellatus appears to confine itself to old pollard-willows, at the roots and under the loose bark of which it is found in abundance. This species is about three-quarters of an inch long, and of a brassy hue above. The elytra are adorned with three distinct longitudinal rows of oblong elevated tubercles, and between these there is a smooth elevated stria.
(Dejean. Species Gtnerale da Coleoptrea.)