Key to the British CARABINAE
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1.
Labrum deeply cleft, head and mandibles very elongate. Elytra short-oval and very convex.
Labrum emarginate but not deeply cleft, head and mandibles not so elongate. Elytra more elongate and not so convex.
2.
Elytra broad, sub-parallel, flat and multi-striate, posterior pronotal angles not produced backwards.
Elytra oval and convex, posterior pronotal angles produced backwards.
3.
>23mm. Strongly bicoloured; forebody dark, elytra brilliant metallic green or coppery. Pronotal side margin complete to the base.
<23mm. Entirely metallic bronze or with green or blue overtones, forebody and elytra not contrasting. Pronotal side margin absent towards the base.
4.
Each elytron with 3 longitudinal keels; lacking any intermediate ridges or fovea.
Elytra finely and regularly sculptured or with ridges or rows of elongate tubercles separated by fovea or smaller ridges.
5.
>20mm. Elytra evenly coloured.
<20mm. Elytral keels black, contrasting with the green ground colour.
6.
Pronotum quadrate.
Pronotum transverse.
7.
Penultimate labial palpomere with at least 3 setae on the inner margin.
Penultimate labial palpomere bisetose.
8.
Pronotum less convex; in side view the posterior angles lie above the level of the intermediate plane. Elytra less elongate and more strongly sculptured; usually with distinct longitudinal ridges.
Pronotum more convex; in side view the posterior angles are level with or lie below the intermediate plane. Elytra more elongate and less strongly sculptured; usually with random, fine and flattened granulate structure or, at most, with fine and rather obscure longitudinal sculpture.
9.
Elytra with rows of large fovea or elongate tubercles separated by a single longitudinal ridge.
Elytra with more numerous longitudinal structure or almost smooth.
10.
Intervals between ridges with 8-10 large fovea.
Intervals between ridges with a series of longitudinal tubercles.
11.
Elytral sculpture very fine, without rows of punctures. (Colour entirely black, form very convex.)
Elytral sculpture much stronger, includes longitudinal rows of punctures.
12.
Terminal segment of maxillary palpi longer than the penultimate segment. (16-19mm, entirely black, elytral sculpture consists of 3 rows of fine punctures among numerous very fine and regular striae.)
Terminal segment of maxillary palps shorter than or at most equal to the penultimate segment. (Metallic bronze, green or coppery, only rarely with black forms. Elytral sculpture includes rows of punctures or elongate tubercles separated by 2 or 3 ridges or granulae.
13.
Elytra with 3 rows of metallic punctures among fine and often longitudinal but extensively random granules.
Elytra without rows of punctures.
14.
Length >21mm. Rows of elongate tubercles on elytra separated by 3 distinct, regular and sharp carinae.
Length <21mm. Rows of elongate tubercles on elytra separated by 2 or 3 rows of carinae that are often interrupted, flattened or transversely sculptured.