Ground Beetles
Ground Beetles are a big help in gardens and flower beds. There are around 2,200 different species of Ground Beetles in the US most are carnivorous. Although there is
some variation in their body shape and coloring, most are shiny and black. Some people may mistake them for cockroaches but they normally live outdoors and do not establish themselves indoors.
Most ground beetles are fast-moving predators that feed on small insects, spiders, slugs, grubs, small caterpillars and other athropods. They usually hunt at night by patrolling the ground, and are found in a variety of habitats, including farmland, wooded areas, and lawns. During the day, most ground beetles hide under rocks, logs, and fallen leaves.
Ground beetle larvae are also predators, and most species hunt in the same way as the adults, by patrolling at night and hiding during the day, although many ground beetle larvae tend to remain undercover even while hunting: some hunt under fallen leaves, others hunt underground.
