The Insect World / Being a Popular Account of the Orders of Insects; Together with a Description of the Habits and Economy of Some of the Most Interesting Species

by Louis Figuier

Fig. 501.—Carabus canaliculatus.		Fig. 502.—Carabus Adonis.

Fig. 503.—Carabus nodulosus.		Fig. 504.—Larva of Carabus auronitens.

Fig. 505.—Calosoma auropunctata.		Figs. 506, 507.—Pupa and larva of Calosoma auropunctata.

In England and the environs of Paris, Carabus violaceus ([Fig. 500]), whose dress, of a sombre colour, is surrounded by shades of red and violet, is met with. In the Pyrenees many Carabi with metallic reflections are found, whose beautiful colours are the delight of collectors; the Carabus splendens, the Carabus rutilans, &c. But the most beautiful insects of this tribe come from Siberia and the north of China. Let us mention, for example, the Carabus smaragdinus, of a beautiful grass-green; the Carabus Vietinghovii, of a beautiful blue black, bordered with azure, with a golden band, &c.

Fig. 508.—Calosoma sycophanta pursuing a Bombardier Beetle (Brachinus explodens).

The Carabus Adonis ([Fig. 502]) is not rare in Alsace, and is found on the banks of streams.

The long flat larvæ of the Carabi live in the trunks of trees, among leaves, under moss, &c. They are active, and live on other insects. [Fig. 504] represents the larva of the Carabus auronitens.

Another genus of the same family is Calosoma. They have wings under their elytra—the true Carabi have not—which they use in passing from one tree to another.