Pterostichinae is a subfamily of ground beetles (family Carabidae). It belongs to the advanced harpaline assemblage, and if these are circumscribed sensu lato as a single subfamily, Pterostichinae are downranked to a tribe Pterostichini. However, as the former Pterostichitae supertribe of the Harpalinae as loosely circumscribed does seem to constitute a lineage rather distinct from Harpalus, its core group is here considered to be the present subfamily and the Harpalinae are defined more narrowly.
They are usually mid-sized and rather stout ground beetles. Coloration is typically dark and without conspicuous patterns, but often with a strong sheen like polished metal. They are widely distributed and inhabit a wide range of terrestrial habitats. Unlike the more basal ground beetles which only eat small animals, the Pterostichinae include a large proportion of omnivorous or even herbivorous taxa.
Systematics This group includes the following tribes and genera:
Tribe Chaetodactylini Tschitscherine, 1903 Chaetodactyla Tschitscherine, 1897
Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911 Cnemalobus Guerin-Meneville, 1838
Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854
Abacaelostus Straneo, 1952 Andrewesinulus Straneo, 1938 Apsidocnemus Alluaud, 1936 Barylaus Liebherr, 1985 Brachidius Chaudoir, 1852 Caecocaelus Straneo, 1949 Caelostomus W.S.MacLeay, 1825 Camptogenys Tschitscherine, 1899 Capabatus Csiki, 1930 Catapiesis Solier, 1835 Cratocerus Dejean, 1829 Crenulostrigus Straneo, 1942 Cyrtolaus Bates, 1882 Dactyleurys Tschitscherine, 1899 Dactylinius Straneo, 1941 Diachipteryx Alluaud, 1925 Diceromerus Chaudoir, 1873 Dromistomus Jeannel, 1948 Drymonaxus Straneo, 1941 Feostoma Straneo, 1941 Hemitelestus Alluaud, 1895 Homalomorpha Brullé, 1837 Hoplizomenus Chaudoir, 1873 Leleuporites Straneo, 1960 Madapelmus Dajoz, 1985 Monodryxus Straneo, 1942 Oxyglychus Straneo, 1938 Pachycaecus Straneo, 1971 Pachyroxochus Straneo, 1942 Platyxythrius Lorenz, 1998 Stegazopteryx Will, 2004 Stomonaxellus Tschitscherine, 1901 Strigomerodes Straneo, 1939 Strigomerus Chaudoir, 1873 Trichillinus Straneo, 1938
Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948 Microcheila Brulle, 1834
Tribe Morionini Brulle, 1835
Buderes Murray, 1857 Hyperectenus Alluaud, 1935 Hyperion Castelnau, 1834 Megamorio Chaudoir, 1880 Morion Latreille, 1810 Morionidius Chaudoir, 1880 Moriosomus Motschulsky, 1864 Platynodes Westwood, 1846 Stereostoma Murray, 1857
Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810 (See Pterostichini for ~180 genera)
Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810 (See Zabrini for 3 genera)
References