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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Black clock - Pterostichus madidus - Family: Carabidae

Black clock - Pterostichus madidusBlack clock - Pterostichus madidus
© Roger Key/English Nature
UK distribution - East Anglia, Midlands, North, South East, South West

A shiny black ground beetle with either all black or wine-red legs, the black clock lives under stones, loose bark and grass tussocks.

This is the 'rain beetle' of children's folklore which says that stepping on it will bring rain. It is a very common beetle in gardens and on arable land and is an important and useful predator of caterpillars and slugs.

Food

Largely predatory on many ground-living invertebrates, including caterpillars and slugs, but the adult also eats some plant material.

Prey

Moths, Sawflies, Slugs and snails