Pterostichinae
# Pterostichinae

Pterostichinae is a subfamily of ground beetles (family Carabidae). It belongs to the advanced harpaline assemblage, and if these are circumscribed sensu lato as a single subfamily, Pterostichinae are downranked to a tribe Pterostichini. However, as the former Pterostichitae supertribe of the Harpalinae as loosely circumscribed does seem to constitute a lineage rather distinct from Harpalus, its core group is here considered to be the present subfamily and the Harpalinae are defined more narrowly.

They are usually mid-sized and rather stout ground beetles. Coloration is typically dark and without conspicuous patterns, but often with a strong sheen like polished metal. They are widely distributed and inhabit a wide range of terrestrial habitats. Unlike the more basal ground beetles which only eat small animals, the Pterostichinae include a large proportion of omnivorous or even herbivorous taxa.

## Systematics

This group includes the following tribes and genera:

Tribe Chaetodactylini Tschitscherine, 1903

* Chaetodactyla Tschitscherine, 1897

Tribe Cnemalobini Germain, 1911

* Cnemalobus Guerin-Meneville, 1838

Tribe Cratocerini Lacordaire, 1854

* Abacaelostus Straneo, 1952
* Andrewesinulus Straneo, 1938
* Apsidocnemus Alluaud, 1936
* Barylaus Liebherr, 1985
* Brachidius Chaudoir, 1852
* Caecocaelus Straneo, 1949
* Caelostomus W.S.MacLeay, 1825
* Camptogenys Tschitscherine, 1899
* Capabatus Csiki, 1930
* Catapiesis Solier, 1835
* Cratocerus Dejean, 1829
* Crenulostrigus Straneo, 1942
* Cyrtolaus Bates, 1882
* Dactyleurys Tschitscherine, 1899
* Dactylinius Straneo, 1941
* Diachipteryx Alluaud, 1925
* Diceromerus Chaudoir, 1873
* Dromistomus Jeannel, 1948
* Drymonaxus Straneo, 1941
* Feostoma Straneo, 1941
* Hemitelestus Alluaud, 1895
* Homalomorpha Brullé, 1837
* Hoplizomenus Chaudoir, 1873
* Leleuporites Straneo, 1960
* Madapelmus Dajoz, 1985
* Monodryxus Straneo, 1942
* Oxyglychus Straneo, 1938
* Pachycaecus Straneo, 1971
* Pachyroxochus Straneo, 1942
* Platyxythrius Lorenz, 1998
* Stegazopteryx Will, 2004
* Stomonaxellus Tschitscherine, 1901
* Strigomerodes Straneo, 1939
* Strigomerus Chaudoir, 1873
* Trichillinus Straneo, 1938

Tribe Microcheilini Jeannel, 1948

* Microcheila Brulle, 1834

Tribe Morionini Brulle, 1835

* Buderes Murray, 1857
* Hyperectenus Alluaud, 1935
* Hyperion Castelnau, 1834
* Megamorio Chaudoir, 1880
* Morion Latreille, 1810
* Morionidius Chaudoir, 1880
* Moriosomus Motschulsky, 1864
* Platynodes Westwood, 1846
* Stereostoma Murray, 1857

Tribe Pterostichini Bonelli, 1810

* (See Pterostichini for ~180 genera)

Tribe Zabrini Bonelli, 1810

* (See Zabrini for 3 genera)
