Ground beetle ID?

[Africa]

I found this larvae under a large pot in my garden. About 15 mm long. I found similar looking carabid beetle larvae on some internet searches, but none looked like this one, especially the cerci are very long. Any ideas as to what species could it be?

[Paul mabbott]

Sorry, this isn't going to be very helpful. I certainly wouldn't want to go to species (there is a Scandinavian key to carabid larvae by Martin Luff) but I'm not even sure it's a ground beetle.
Some staphylinid larvae are very similar and they're primarily told apart by Carabidae have legs with six segments while Staphylinidae have only five. I can't see six on any of the legs of this larva but that may be because of the photo or my eyesight!
Yes, long cerci but this feature varies between species and, I think, through the instars.
Hopefully, there are larva experts out there who may be more helpful.

[Jason Green]

Evening A,

Nice larva. I'm with Paul on exercising caution with these; Staphs have one tarsal claw, Carabid instars usually two - should be used holistically alongside leg segmentation, as already outlined.

Is the Carabid's extra segment born out of a double-segmented trochanter or something, Paul?

Take care,

Jason

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

...........
Is the Carabid's extra segment born out of a double-segmented trochanter or something, Paul?
Take care, Jason

Very good question - one day I'll have the time to look it up.

Meant to say earlier, to A, that it's a very good photo despite my having little idea what it is!

[Africa]

Thank you Paul and Jason,
I can't see the legs very well in any of the photos, not mentioning the tarsal claws (I was puzzled by the whitish gunk on the head and was trying to focus that, I wonder if I interrupted a meal!), but the few staphilinid larvae I've seen seem to match the 'jizz' of this one better. I guess it'll have to stay unidentified unless I find it tomorrow and get a white bowl photo.

[Fauna]

I believe this is also a good tip to look for in seperating Carabids larvae from Staphs...taken from Bug Guide.

Nearly all Carabids have the urogomphi ("cerci") solidly attached (not jointed) to segment 9, and at least some of the ones that do have them articulated basally have more than 2 segments, which staphs never have. Staphs almost always have the urogomphi articulated and they have only 1-2 segments; the ones with solid urogomphi are tiny and quite different in form from carabid larvae.

Regards Chris...