Natural England

Natural England

Gardening with Wildlife in Mind

The Plant Press

© 2006-2008. Database provided and managed on behalf of Natural England by The Plant Press. Designed and implemented by Ideal Integration Ltd

 

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Agonum dorsale - a ground beetle - Family: Carabidae

Agonum dorsale - a ground beetleAgonum dorsale - a ground beetle
© Roger Key/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

A small, flat-bodied, orange and metallic green ground beetle with slender antennae and legs, this is a fast runner. It lives during the day under stones, in plant litter and on the ground under the low leaf rosettes of plants, coming out at night to feed on other small invertebrates, especially aphids. It is recognised as an important biological control agent, especially in arable crops.

There are about 4,000 different species of beetle in Britain.

Food

Predatory: adults and larvae feed on small insects, especially aphids.

Prey

Aphids