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)