Food requirements of the larvae of nine closely related species of the genus Amara (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were studied in the laboratory. Mealworms, a mixed diet of mealworms and oat flakes, and seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Stellaria media were offered as food. Survival and developmental rate were monitored daily from the 1st larval instar. Amara aenea is omnivorous while A. similata and A. familiaris are granivorous in the larval stage. Larvae of A. familiaris appeared to be specialist feeders of seeds of Stellaria media. The larvae of all three species are probably important predators of weed seeds. Food specialization of the other species remained uncertain. The origin of granivory in the genus Amara is discussed. It is considered to be an apomorphic character of some species.