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