Blue ground beetle  (Carabus intricatus)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

This is a large and impressive beetle, with an attractive metallic purple or blue sheen to it. It does not possess wings, although it does have 'typical' beetle wing cases. These have a rough surface, described as looking like a 'rugged landscape' under the microscope. It was only recorded three times in the twenty years prior to 1993 and was considered extinct in Britain until a specimen was found in 1994.

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