Pterostichinae is a

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

ground beetle Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan family (biology), family of beetles, the Carabidae, with more than 40,000 species worldwide, around 2,000 of which are found in North America and 2,700 in Europe. As of 2015, it ...

s (

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

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

habitat In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...

s. 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

{{Taxonbar, from=Q142166 Carabidae subfamilies Taxa named by Franco Andrea Bonelli