Sharova I.Kh., Makarov K.V. 2012. [Life forms and adaptive radiation of ground beetle larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the World fauna] // Russian Entomol. J. Vol.21. No.3: 229–256 [in Russian, with English summary].
Moscow State Pedagogical University, Department of Zoology & Ecology, Kibalchicha str. 6, build. 5, Moscow, 129278 Russia.
KEY WORDS: larvae, Carabidae, morphology, life forms, adaptations, life form spectra, parallelism.
ABSTRACT. Hierarchical system of life forms of Carabid larvae was elaborated, wich is based on the synthesis of original and published data on their morphology, systematics and ecology. This proposed system differs from the previous one [Sharova, 1981] by the inclusion of additional categories of life forms. The system incorporates 6 classes and 45 groups of life forms, which are characterized by the complex of morphological and behavioral adaptations. On the base of this updated system of Carabidae larvae life forms, the hypothesis of their adaptive radiation from low-specialized zoophages-stratobionts is proposed. Examples of parallel origin of the same life forms are given.