Purdue Extension 4-H/FFA Career Development Event (CDE) | FFA | Purdue | entomology | CDE | insect | insect orders | flashcards

Ground Beetle
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Ground Beetle

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Carabidae

Pest Status: Ground beetles are very common and are often mistaken as pests. In truth, these are predators on other potential pests that occur in or on the soil.

Appearance: Although there is some variation in body shape and coloring, most ground beetles are shiny, black, and have ridged wing covers. They range from 1/2 to 1 1/2-inches long, are somewhat flattened, and have narrow heads.

Life Cycle: Females lay their eggs in the soil. After hatching, the larvae feed and grow for one to two years and pupate in small chambers made of soil. Many species spend the winter in these chambers and the adults emerge in the spring.

Where to Collect: Ground beetles normally live outdoors under stones, logs and boards. They can be attracted to light and occasionally crawl into houses through cracks in windows and doors.