Pterostichinae


Pterostichinae is a subfamily of ground beetles. 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, 1903Chaetodactyla Tschitscherine, 1897
Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911Cnemalobus Guerin-Meneville, 1838
Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854Abacaelostus Straneo, 1952Andrewesinulus Straneo, 1938Apsidocnemus Alluaud, 1936Barylaus Liebherr, 1985Brachidius Chaudoir, 1852Caecocaelus Straneo, 1949Caelostomus W.S.MacLeay, 1825Camptogenys Tschitscherine, 1899Capabatus Csiki, 1930Catapiesis Solier, 1835Cratocerus Dejean, 1829Crenulostrigus Straneo, 1942Cyrtolaus Bates, 1882Dactyleurys Tschitscherine, 1899Dactylinius Straneo, 1941Diachipteryx Alluaud, 1925Diceromerus Chaudoir, 1873Dromistomus Jeannel, 1948Drymonaxus Straneo, 1941Feostoma Straneo, 1941Hemitelestus Alluaud, 1895Homalomorpha Brullé, 1837Hoplizomenus Chaudoir, 1873Leleuporites Straneo, 1960Madapelmus Dajoz, 1985Monodryxus Straneo, 1942Oxyglychus Straneo, 1938Pachycaecus Straneo, 1971Pachyroxochus Straneo, 1942Platyxythrius Lorenz, 1998Stegazopteryx Will, 2004Stomonaxellus Tschitscherine, 1901Strigomerodes Straneo, 1939Strigomerus Chaudoir, 1873Trichillinus Straneo, 1938
Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948Microcheila Brulle, 1834
Tribe Morionini Brulle, 1835Buderes Murray, 1857Hyperectenus Alluaud, 1935Hyperion Castelnau, 1834Megamorio Chaudoir, 1880Morion Latreille, 1810Morionidius Chaudoir, 1880Moriosomus Motschulsky, 1864Platynodes Westwood, 1846Stereostoma Murray, 1857
Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810
Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810
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