Spatial Variation in Morphometric Traits of Carabus Granulatus L., 1758 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) at A Small Scale

Abstract

This study examines the small-scale spatial variability of morphometric traits in the carabid beetle Carabus granulatus L., 1758 across diverse habitats in Kaluga Province, Russia. A total of 5,039 specimens were collected from seven distinct vegetation types to assess the impact of environmental conditions and anthropogenic pressure on morphological variation. Linear discrimination analysis revealed statistically significant, though subtle, differences in morphology among habitats, most notably in pronotum length and elytral dimensions. Beetles from urban and suburban areas tended to be larger and more robust, whereas individuals from natural floodplain habitats were generally smaller. These findings enhance our understanding of ecological influences on intraspecific morphological diversity and support the use of morphometric traits as indicators in environmental biomonitoring.