Alpine Carabus vs Rugged Oil Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Carabus Rugged Oil Beetle
Scientific Name Carabus alpestris Meloe rugosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Meloidae
Size 18-26 mm 8-25 mm
Habitat Meadows Beaches & Coastal
Diet Predators Herbivores
Regions Alps, Carpathians Western Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Endangered

Alpine Carabus

A metallic green or bronze ground beetle of high alpine meadows. It is a nocturnal predator of slugs and soft-bodied invertebrates.

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Did You Know?

Its metallic coloration varies significantly between isolated mountain populations.

Rugged Oil Beetle

A rare, dark and heavily wrinkled oil beetle that appears in autumn unlike its spring-emerging relatives. It is one of Britain's most endangered beetles.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few European oil beetles that is active during the autumn and winter months.