(Have You Seen Me?)

It's the Bug Mug Shot Locator

Contact EnviroSafe for immediate assistance.

INTRODUCTION. Members of this family get their common name from their general habit of occurring on the ground, usually beneath something.  They are worldwide in distribution and occur throughout most of the United States.

RECOGNITION. Adults about 1/16-1 3/8in (12-35 mm) long, body elongate, somewhat flattened in form.  Color usually uniformly black and shiny, but some species patterned or brightly colored.  Head at eyes nearly always narrower than pronotum.  First abdominal segment divided by hind coxae, and hind trochanter (segment between coxa and femur) much enlarged and kidney-bean shaped.  Antennae inserted between eyes and base of mandibles, usually threadlike.  Legs usually long, slender.

     Larvae vary from dirty white to dirty yellow to almost black in color.  Thoracic legs 5-segmented, with 2 claws.  Mandibles biting but without a blood groove.  Abdomen 10-segmented and without any dorsal hooks.

HABITS. Ground beetles are terrestrial and typically found on the ground, usually under something such as stones during the daytime.  A few species climb trees in search of food and may be seen during the daytime.  Many species and in great numbers, come to lights at night.  Most species are nocturnal or active at night.

     They typically enter structures by crawling under door thresholds or will fly in through open doors, windows, etc. at night when lights are on.  Ground beetles are a nuisance pest.  They give off a very unpleasant odor when handled or crushed.

     With few exceptions both adults and larvae are predaceous, so they are a beneficial group.  Insects make up a large portion of their diet, including the larvae of many undesirable pest species such as cutworms and other caterpillars, beetle larvae, and maggots.  Some feed on dead organic material.

Copyright(c) 2004 Envirosafe. All rights reserved.
customerservice@envirosafepc.com