Keys for the identification of British Carabidae

The ground beetles are well represented in the British fauna with 362 species from 87 genera in the 2012 list edited by Duff.  Lindroth's keys from 1974 have been well used for nearly four decades and there have been changes made to the generic classification as well as some synonymy.  The illustrated key to genus includes the 87 genera in the checklist except for separating Curtonotus from Amara. These are keyed to species in the tribe Zabrini key below. 

As always if you find anything that is difficult or you feel could be easily improved, please let me know on mikesinsectkeysATgmail.com

If you are an avid collector of Carabidae, I would recommend that you purchase a copy of The Carabidae (ground Beetles) of Britain and Ireland (Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects) by Martin Luff (2007).  This contains a wealth of additional information and is available from Amazon or Pemberley Books.  The notes by Martin Telfer at http://markgtelfer.co.uk/beetles/carabidae-ground-beetles/ include corrections and amendments to Luff's work and links to other key works.

This document contains a key to all British genera and includes keys to species for Badister, Brachinus, Chlaenius, Cicindela, Elaphrus, Licinus, Notiophilus, Panagaeus, Patrobus and Pogonus

Family Carabidae illustrated key to genus.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Bembidiini - Asaphidion, Bembidion, Bracteon, Cillenus, Elaphropus, Ocys and Tachys

Tribe Bembidiini key to British genera and species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Carabini - Calsoma and Carabus

Tribe Carabini key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Harpalini - Acupalpus, Anisodactylus, Anthracus, Bradycellus, Diachromus, Dicheirotrichus, Harpalus, Ophonus, Scybalicus, Stenolophus and Trichocellus

Tribe Harpalini, key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Lebiini - Calodromius, Cymindis, Demetrias, Dromius, Lebia, Lionychus, Microlestes, Paradromius, Philorhizus, Somotrichus and Syntomus

Tribe Lebiini key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Nebriini - Eurynebria, Leistus, Nebria and Pelophila

Tribe Nebriini key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Platynini - Agonum, Anchomenus, Batenus, Olisthopus, Oxypselaphus, Paranchus, Platynus, Sericoda

Tribe Platynini, key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Pterostichini - Abax, Poeclus, Pterostichus and Stomis

Tribe Pterostichini key to British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Scaritini - Clivina and Dyschirus

Tribe Scaritini, key to the British species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Sphondrini - Calathus, Laemostenus, Platyderus, Sphodrus and Synuchus

Tribe Sphodrini keys to genus and species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Trechini - Aepus, Blemus, Perleptus, Thalassophilus, Trechoblemus and Trechus

Tribe Trechini key to British genera and species.pdf

Key to the British species in tribe Zabrini - Amara, Curtonotus and Zabrus

Tribe Zabrini key to British species.pdf