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Ground Beetles
Natures Clean Up Crew
There are many kinds of beetles that you have in your garden, even though you probably won't see them much; many are nocturnal, trundling about all night, and creeping under a board or rock when daylight arrives.
They can predate many other insects, even earthworms, other beetles as well as slugs and snails.
Depending on the type, some eat live prey
while others, such as the Cadaver Beetle or Undertaker Beetle will clean
up carrion.
The Cadaver Beetle takes care of any dead carcases - even larger animals. They have the most amazing sense of smell, locating the dead body and flying to it.
There, they burrow under it, eat their fill, and most likely lay some eggs.
Although some beetles don't have wings, others do.
They hide them inside the durable shell, and unfold them as needed. Some, like this Dogbane Beetle, have amazingly brightly colored wings, protected from the elements and brought out only for special occasions.
Dogbane Beetle
...opening its wingsSome, like the Bombardier Beetle (top picture), sometimes also called 'Alexander Beetle' after the beetle owned by the hero of the Winnie the Pooh childrens books, have a tactic to ward off attackers; they stop dead in their tracks, crouch down with their front end, and stick their hind end up in the air.
They have the
ability to shoot out a chemical that is apparently quite repulsive, and
gives them time to get away, while the attacker is getting their breath
back.
Most beetles are beneficial, spending their lives tracking
down prey, cleaning up after after other animals, and general doing good
deeds.
Some beetles aren't as polite. The Blister Beetle hangs around on alfalfa in particular, making a nuisance of itself when the fields are cut for hay.
They are called 'blister' beetles for a reason; just touching them raises welts.
Their other nasty habit is to wait for bees to land on the flowers for the nectar, attach themselves to the bee, hitch a ride to the hive, and wreak havoc there.
Blister Beetle - note the vestigial (non-working) wing casesThere are lots of different types of burying beetles, of the genus Necrophorus. They go by several names; cadaver beetle, sexton beetle, carrion beetle and others (all to do with their role in the cleanup crew). They are often striped orange and black.
Margined Carrion BeetleSo if you see ground beetles in your garden, rest assured that most likely they're some of the 'good guys' doing their work quietly and efficiently. Don't be scared of them!
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