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Carabus cf. coriaceus
Carabus coriaceus is a beetle in the family Carabidae. This all black beetle can grow 3 to 4 cm in size with a broad thorax and posterior tagma. The elytra has small dents that sometimes merge giving it a rimply appearance. The prothorax and head are smooth, especially the prothorax has a purplish sheen. This beetle has large clearly visible mandibles and slender legs and antennae like most Carabidae. The larvae of this beetle, like the mature beetles, are carnivorous feeding on snails and worms and mostly hunt at night. They are dark brown, almost black and it takes the larvae about 3 years to mature.
Carabus coriaceus is a species of beetle widespread in Europe, where it is primarily found in deciduous forests and mixed forests.
I think this is a larva of the Carabus coriaceus, though I'm not certain. I could find very little online information on the larvae of Carabus species, at least no specific physical descriptions. Spotted in National Park Veluwezoom, Holland.(sources:see reference)
Spotted on Sep 23, 2014
Submitted on Sep 24, 2014
4 Comments
Thank you, Deepti.
Cool spotting!
Thank you for the hint in the right direction, Ana. I think you might be right on this one.
from what i know, this is a carabidae larva, though i don't know which species it might be..