Insect Archive

Preface (Extract): 

In issuing this first volumo of "Aid", I wish to call attention to the following sentence in my Prospectus, viz: - "There will be a Systematic Index, together with such remarks on the insects as may appear absolutely necessary, but the Editor is anxious to avoid adding to the already voluminous Entomological Literature ; the present work being intended to elucidate that which has been already written."

[Aide à l'identification des insectes en 2 vol. illustrés,1880-1882, 400 p. à télécharger | W.A.S./mahn-84]

W.A.S. Biodiversity: European Carabid (Ground beetle) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) 1096 HD Photos! 

Ground beetles are a large, cosmopolitan family of beetles, Carabidae, with more than 40,000 species worldwide, approximately 2,000 of which are found in North America and 2,700 in Europe.

Although their body shapes and coloring vary somewhat, most are shiny black or metallic and have ridged wing covers (elytra). The elytra are fused in some species, particularly large Carabinae, rendering the beetles unable to fly. The genus Mormolyce is known as violin beetles due to their peculiarly shaped elytra. All carabids except the quite primitive flanged bombardier beetles (Paussinae) have a groove on their foreleg tibiae bearing a comb of hairs used for cleaning their antennae.

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