Monthly Archives: December 2012

The next best thing to The Stink Beetle

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Kip Will

One of the great stories of carabid beetles is their ability to produce, store and deliver defensive chemicals using their paired pygidial glands.  Most people that know anything about this, know about the bombardier beetle and its awesome boiling hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabids, Coleoptera, Entomology | 1 Comment

Ornaments on the carabid family tree

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Kip Will

Species currently in the Australian genus Leiradira are some mighty fine looking beetles. What you can’t see well in the habitus images below are the cool modifications of the mouth parts for eating some kind of special food. Some have … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabids, Coleoptera, Entomology, Pterostichines | 4 Comments

Eight is enough

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Kip Will

Plenty of carabids are known to be gregarious. Species of Brachinus, Chlaenius, Bembidion and other, typically riparian species frequently hibernate or aestivate in crowds that are packed gena-by-mandible. Often there can be multiple species all nestled in the same little … Continue reading →

Posted in Carabids, Coleoptera, Entomology, Pterostichines | 2 Comments