Carabus

Carabus is a genus of beetles in the family Carabidae. The genus is highly diverse with 94 subgenera, over 900 species and 2300 subspecies, thus is the largest genus in the subfamily Carabinae. The vast majority are native to the Palearctic, but 16 Nearctic species are also known. Carabus species are 12–50 mm (0.47–1.97 in) long, and most species are wingless and often very colourful. These are nocturnal, predatory beetles that feed on snails, earthworms, and caterpillars. Most Carabus species were thought to have inhabited the Eurasian forest, but their low dispersal abilities altered the distribution of lineages within the genus.