General Characteristics

Caraboidea are a beetle superfamily within the suborder Adephaga, comprising terrestrial and predatory species with streamlined bodies, long legs, and slender antennae. They are fast runners, often active at dusk or during the night.

Distinctive Traits

  • Elongated and flattened body, adapted for running and ground hunting.
  • Powerful mandibles, sometimes visible even at rest.
  • Long and slender legs, with sharp claws.
  • Metallic colors are common (in tiger beetles and some ground beetles).
  • Often nocturnal behavior, though some species are diurnal.

Representative Families

The Caraboidea superfamily mainly includes two major families:

  • Carabidae: the largest family, with ground beetles of highly varied forms.
  • Cicindelidae: tiger beetles or “ground tigers”, fast, diurnal, often with metallic reflections.

Some classifications include Cicindelidae within Carabidae, but their distinct status is often retained for morphological and behavioral reasons.

Habitat and Ecology

Caraboidea are found in many terrestrial environments:

  • forests, meadows, hedges, wetlands, agricultural areas,
  • under stones, in leaf litter, in moss, or even in dunes.

They are all carnivorous or scavenging, playing a key role in the natural control of harmful invertebrates.

Notable Behaviors

  • Ground beetles are often discreet, but some fly well or release defensive chemicals (e.g., bombardier beetle).
  • Tiger beetles are extremely fast, both on foot and in flight, and use advanced vision to visually hunt their prey.

Interest in Macrophotography

  • Ground beetles display a wide variety of shapes, textures and colors (emerald green, metallic blue, matte black…).
  • Tiger beetles, very aesthetic, pose a challenge for diurnal and dynamic photography.
  • Their hunting behavior and natural habitats make them fascinating subjects to document.

🧭 Suggested Navigation:

📌 Remember: Caraboidea are the quintessential ground predators among beetles. Their presence is often an indicator of a healthy and balanced environment.