Pest Identification: Ground Beetle

Ground beetles vary in size and shape, with most being oval and elongated, ranging from 2 to 25 mm or more in length. They are often black or dark-colored, and some exhibit iridescence in shades of blue, green, orange, red, yellow, or copper. Ground beetles have three body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), three pairs of legs, and two pairs of wings, with hardened outer wings (elytra) used as protective covers. As predators, they have prominent mandibles for capturing prey. Ground beetles live and breed in the soil, often found under debris, logs, rocks, or in agricultural zones like fruit orchards. They are beneficial insects, feeding on pests such as ants, aphids, caterpillars, slugs, and worms. Some species are nocturnal, hiding during the day, and may invade buildings, although reproduction occurs outdoors. Ground beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, with females laying eggs in the soil. A single litter can contain 30 to 600 offspring, developing from eggs to adults within a single season. Adult ground beetles live for one to four years, with peak activity between April and October. They defend themselves with noxious secretions, and some species can fly, although they are more likely to move over the ground.