Ground Beetles of Ireland
Carabus problematicus
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 © Roy Anderson |
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Carabus problematicus Herbst, 1786
Description: Large (18-30mm) black ground beetle with metallic purple or blue elytral and pronotal margins. A woodland species but very local at lower altitudes and found mainly in overgrown montane dwarf shrub heaths.
World Distribution: A European Boreo-temperate species (53), widespread in central, west and northern Europe to just beyond the Arctic Circle. Introduced in North America.
Irish Status: Widespread and frequent in hill areas throughout.
Ecology: Primarily associated with Calluna heath or forest ecotopes in upland areas. There are few records for land below the 200m contour and these are mainly for the west.