carabid beetle
- noun
- /ˈkɛrəbɪd ˈbiːtəl/
:
escarabajo carábido
- Farmers value carabid beetles for their role in controlling agricultural pests.
Examples
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She observed a shiny black carabid beetle scurrying across the garden path.
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The scientist collected several carabid beetles from beneath logs in the forest.
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The carabid beetle is a useful pest controller.
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Many gardeners appreciate the carabid beetle for its role in controlling pests.
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Farmers value carabid beetles for their role in controlling agricultural pests.
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She observed a shiny black carabid beetle scurrying across the garden path.
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Many gardeners appreciate the carabid beetle for its role in controlling pests.
Synonyms
1
4.5
A shiny black or metallic beetle that lives on the ground and eats harmful insects
1
9.6
A ground beetle that lives on the soil surface and often eats other insects
A large group of dark ground beetles that eat other insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'carabid' denotes a particular type of soil-surface predatory beetle and 'beetle' is the general noun, so 'carabid beetle' simply names that specific kind of beetle. This follows a common noun+noun taxonomic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings would be able to infer the MWE meaning (noting that 'carabid' itself is somewhat technical).
Etymology
Carabid beetle may come from the old word 'karabos' for hard-shelled insects, and it names ground beetles that hunt other bugs. That's why carabid beetles are understood today as small, often shiny hunters that eat many harmful insects and help control pests.