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Beetle (Common Ground)

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Pterostichus melanarius
Beetle (Common Ground)

Range

Ground beetles are found all over the world. In North America alone there are thought to be 2,200 different species. They make up one of the largest groups of beetles in North America.

Habitat

They live in woods, gardens, under stones and boards.

Body Traits

They have a long, shiny, black body. They have rounded wing covers with long grooves. They have long thin antennae and their head is smaller than their thorax.

Habits

Adult beetles are active at night (nocturnal) and during the day they hide under rocks or logs. They will run if you get near them. They are harmless to humans.

Diet

They eat other insects like caterpillars, maggots, and snails. This makes them helpful to gardeners (beneficial).

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School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

Female ground beetles lay eggs in the soil.

Beetle (Common Ground)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Carabidae
Genus: Pterostichus
Species: P. melanarius

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