Carabus auratus

Carabus auratus
Carabus auratus with prey
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Adephaga
Family:	Carabidae
Genus:	Carabus
Species:	C. auratus
Binomial name
Carabus auratus Linnaeus, 1761
Synonyms
Carabus (Tachypus) altavesubiensis Rataj, 2006 Carabus margaritae Hecq, 1996 Carabus isignyensis Machard, 1977 Autocarabus concyri Machard, 1973 Carabus plonnieri Machard, 1973 Carabus rivalieri Bourgin, 1948 Carabus clementi Sirguey, 1931 Carabus clermonti Sirguey, 1931 Carabus meyeri Sirguey, 1931 Carabus dufouranus Csiki, 1927 Carabus nigricatus Csiki, 1927 Carabus rutilipes Csiki, 1927 Carabus hilairei Gavoy, 1925 Carabus navarricus Lapouge, 1925 Carabus barthei Lebis, 1924 Carabus anthracinus Barthe, 1921 Carabus bettingeri Barthe, 1921 Carabus brunieri Barthe, 1921 Carabus dufouri Barthe, 1921 Carabus erythropus Barthe, 1921 Carabus perviridis Born, 1915 Carabus confluentinus Bocklet, 1904 Carabus labittei Clement, 1904 Carabus laticollaris Bocklet, 1904 Carabus quadricostatus Bocklet, 1904 Carabus sulcatissimus Lapouge, 1898 Carabus auratoides Reitter, 1896 Carabus perauratus Reitter, 1896 Carabus rotundatus Born, 1895 Carabus worleei Beuthin, 1894 Carabus brullei Géhin, 1885 Carabus catalaunicus Géhin, 1885 Carabus obscuricornis Beuthin, 1885 Carabus nigripes Dalla Torre, 1877 Carabus opacoviridis Dalla Torre, 1877 Carabus viridiauratus Dalla Torre, 1877 Carabus laniarius Gistel, 1857 Carabus coeruleomicans Letzner, 1850 Carabus contortus Letzner, 1850 Carabus picipes Letzner, 1850 Carabus sulcatus DeGeer, 1774 Carabus (Tachypus) piolitensis Thelot & Thelot, 2019 Carabus altissimus Rataj, 1999 Carabus camardi Darnaud, 1995 Carabus astridae Fiévet, 1991 Carabus ignescens Darnaud, 1983 Carabus blayeulensis Machard, 1977 Carabus grimonensis Machard, 1977 Carabus lardierensis Machard, 1977 Carabus lurensis Machard, 1977 Carabus malcorensis Machard, 1977 Carabus seirinensis Machard, 1977 Carabus diensis Tarrier, 1975 Carabus aufreri Colas, 1964 Carabus fabrei Colas, 1962 Carabus vadoni Colas, 1962 Carabus nicolasianus Csiki, 1927 Carabus olivarius A.Nicolas, 1919 Carabus baeri Bleuse, 1914 Carabus diversicolor Bleuse, 1914 Carabus hnicolasi Chobaut, 1908 Carabus ventouxensis A.Nicolas, 1904 Carabus nicolasi Chobaut, 1897 Carabus atripes Géhin, 1885 Carabus tronqueti Peslier, 2007 Carabus agoutensis Bidault & Camard, 2003 Carabus mazametensis Prunier, 1999 Carabus rabili Raynaud, 1971 Autocarabus carouxensis Schaefer, 1969 Autocarabus millavensis Schaefer, 1969 Autocarabus mouriesi Schaefer, 1969 Carabus ligericinulus Mandl, 1955 Carabus taranicus Cleu, 1952 Carabus ruthenus Lapouge, 1924 Carabus pseudolotharingus Barthe, 1921 Carabus ispaniacus A.Nicolas, 1919 Carabus magdelainei Bleuse, 1914 Carabus ruthenus Barthe, 1908 Carabus sudresi Lapouge, 1898 Carabus ligericinus Fairmaire, 1886 Autocarabus avenionensis Schaefer, 1973 Autocarabus sambucensis Schaefer, 1973 Autocarabus billieriensis Schaefer, 1969 Autocarabus larzacensis Schaefer, 1969 Autocarabus mourguesi Schaefer, 1969 Autocarabus virenquensis Schaefer, 1969 Carabus gangensis Schaefer, 1964 Carabus incognitus Bourgin, 1953 Carabus puisseguri Bourgin, 1953 Carabus transiens Cleu, 1952 Carabus monspessulanus Lapouge, 1898 Carabus siculus Ragusa, 1881

Carabus auratus

Carabus auratus, the golden ground beetle, is a species of ground beetle in the genus Carabus. This species is native to central and western Europe and has been introduced into North America.

Description

The flightless beetle reaches a body length between 1.7 and 2.0 cm. The elytra, each marked with three broad longitudinal grooves, are an iridescent gold-green colour, as are the head and thorax. The legs, antennae and mouth parts are orange.

C. auratus is found in fields and amongst bushes, particularly on loamy soil. On occasion, it climbs into trees. Active during the day, it preys upon insects, snails, and worms, which it seizes with its mandibles and sprays with a digestive secretion before consuming it. C. auratus can be welcome to farmers and gardeners, as it feeds upon pests such as the Colorado potato beetle.

The larvae hunt only at dawn. They moult three times before pupating in the soil and then emerging as adults in the autumn. The beetles' life expectancy is around two years; they overwinter under the shelter of stones or moss.

Subspecies

• Carabus auratus auratus Linnaeus, 1761 (Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechia, Poland, Spain, USA)
• Carabus auratus honnoratii Dejean, 1826 (France)
• Carabus auratus lasserrei Doué, 1855 (France)
• Carabus auratus lotharingus Dejean, 1826 (France)