CLOSED: Pterostichus which one?

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wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Jul 20, 2007

I think I'm onto a good beating for nothing here!

I think this beetle is a Pterostichus, but there are a few which look much the same.

http://popgen.unimaas.nl/~jlindsey/commanster/Insects/Beetles/Carabidae.html

Pterostichus melanarius I found on a site in the UK, thinking good, got it.

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/carab.htm

Looking at the other look-alikes I can eliminate some maybe because of the basic body colour, some being more brownish black or matt black, but there are still some it could be. It's quite a large beetle, the violet glow doesn't necessarily place it as Carabus violaceus purpurascens, the colour on that looks to be on the edges assuming that is a true likeness.

Any ideas?

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wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Jul 20, 2007

Another I have which is similar but has red thighs is, I think, Pterostichus madidus.

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/beetle1.htm#top

Then I found this site which has a spot on look-alike, Pterostichus morio.

http://www.koleopterologie.de/gallery/FHL02/pterostichus-morio-carpathicus-foto2-polacek.html

There's even more black ones as in pic #1 here to ponder,

http://www.koleopterologie.de/gallery/FHL02/gattungen4/triben-14-16.html

#2 which I think is Pterostichus morio.







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wallaby1 Lincoln, United Kingdom(Zone 8a) Jul 20, 2007

I'm now wondering if they are the same beetle, as the legs of Pterostichus madidus can apparently be all black or red and is said to be the most common in Southern England. I saw a few in the letterbox which is outside and had earwigs in it, there was some with all black and some with part red legs. They were probably eating the earwigs as they were swarming around the hinge of the lid, the beetles being in the box.

http://www.plantpress.com/wildlife/o248-blackclock.php

http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/insects/caraboidea.htm

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