Identification
• Adults are dark, shiny, and flat with ridged wing covers, and range
in size from 1/4 - 2 inches long. Their antennae are inserted between the
eyes.
• Larvae are long and slender, and look somewhat like caterpillars,
but with strong jaws.
Host Range
• Ground beetles feed on many insects, including caterpillars. Most
of their prey are encountered on the ground, but beetles may climb plants
to search for food.
Life Cycle
• Ground beetles have complete metamorphosis and pupate in the ground.
Their life cycle takes 1 year.
Important Species
• Caterpillar hunters (Calosoma spp.) forage in trees and shrubs for
prey (including gypsy moths).
Other information
• More common in gardens that have been heavily mulched, most ground
beetle species are active at night, hiding during the day in leaf litter.