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When to look
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Ground beetle
Good to know
Six things about the ground beetle
RunnerBuilt for running
It cannot fly: its wing cases are joined together. It runs its prey down.
NightA night hunter
It hides under logs and stones by day and comes out after dark.
SlugsA gardener's friend
It eats slugs, snails, caterpillars and leatherjackets, and plenty of them.
SmellA stinking squirt
If you pick one up it may squirt a sharp-smelling liquid from its tail end.
ShineViolet in the light
Tilt it in the sun and the edges shine purple. The colour is made by the surface, not by any dye.
YoungThe grubs hunt too
The larva is long, black and armoured, with big jaws, and hunts in the soil.
The real thing
Photos of the ground beetle
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under the free licences shown. They have been resized, and cropped where they appear in link previews.
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Out and aboutHow to spot one
Lift a log or a paving slab. It will run for cover at once, so be ready to look quickly.
Lend a handHow to help
Avoid slug pellets. A garden with ground beetles has fewer slugs anyway.
Following youLadybird
Who should follow you?
The garden
Meadow and hedgerow
Pond and stream bugs live on their own page: choosing one takes you there.
Pond and stream
The log pile
After dark
Bugs from other parts of the world live on their own pages: choose another.
