Amara (beetle)

Amara is a large genus of carabid beetles, commonly called the sun beetles. Many are holarctic, but a few species are neotropical or occur in eastern Asia.

These ground beetles are mostly black or bronze-colored, and many species have a characteristic "bullet-shaped" habitus, as shown in the photos, making them taxonomically difficult for a beginner. They are predominantly herbivorous, with some species known to climb ripening grasses to feed on the seeds. Other species are used as weed control agents. Numerous species are adventive in non-native habitats, particularly species that thrive in synanthropic settings.

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Subgenera The following are subgenera of Amara:

Acorius Zimmermann, 1831 Allobradytus Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1975 Amara Bonelli, 1810 Amarocelia Motschulsky, 1862 Amathitis Zimmermann, 1831 Ammoleirus Tschitscherine, 1899 Ammoxena Tschitscherine, 1894 Armatoleirides Tanaka, 1957 Atlantocnemis Antoine, 1953 Bradytodema Hieke, 1983 Bradytulus Tschitscherine, 1894 Bradytus Stephens, 1827 Camptocelia Jeannel, 1942 Celia Zimmermann, 1832 Cribramara Kryzhanovskij, 1964 Cumeres Andrewes, 1924 Curtonotus Stephens, 1827 Eoleirides Tschitscherine, 1898 Harpaloamara Baliani, 1934 Harpalodema Reitter, 1888 Heterodema Tschitscherine, 1894 Hyalamara Tschitscherine, 1903 Leiocnemis Zimmermann, 1831 Leiramara Hieke, 1988 Leirides Putzeys, 1866 Leiromorpha Ganglbauer, 1891 Leironotus Ganglbauer, 1892 Leuris Lutshnik, 1927 Microleirus Kryzhanovskij, 1974 Neopercosia Hieke, 1978 Paracelia Bedel, 1899 Paraleirides Sainte-Claire Deville, 1906 Parapercosia Tschitscherine, 1899 Percosia Zimmermann, 1832 Phaenotrichus Tschitscherine, 1898 Phanerodonta Tschitscherine, 1894 Polysitamara Kryzhanovskij, 1968 Pseudoamara Baliani, 1934 Pseudocelia Lutshnik, 1935 Pseudoleirides Kryzhanovskij, 1968 Pseudoleiromorpha Hieke, 1981 Reductocelia Lafer, 1989 Shunichius Habu, 1972 Xanthamara Bedel, 1899 Xenocelia Hieke, 2001 Zabrocelis Putzeys, 1866 Zezea Csiki, 1929

Amara (beetle)

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