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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Calathus melanocephalus - a ground beetle - Family: Carabidae

Calathus melanocephalus - a ground beetleCalathus melanocephalus - a ground beetle
© Roger Key/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

Beetles are by far the largest group of insects in the world. There are reckoned to be around a quarter of a million species.

This ground beetle is usually found where there is bare, usually sandy soil. It is black with a bright red thorax and pale legs, although sometimes almost completely black or with a dark brown thorax, particularly in the north and in hill country. It lives during the day under stones and amongst leaf litter, coming out to hunt at night. It is a common and conspicuous beetle and you may often see one when you are doing your weeding in the summer months.

Food

Predatory on other small invertebrates.