European Ground Beetle
Carabus nemoralis
This record describes Carabus nemoralis (species). Recorded family: Carabidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
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Terms from the source record, grouped for readability. Broad terms such as size or location are not measurements or a confirmed range.
Wikipedia reference for Carabus nemoralis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carabus_nemoralis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Adephaga
- Family
- Carabidae (Ground Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Carabinae
- Tribe
- Carabini
- Genus
- Carabus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Lives under stones, loose bark and among litter.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are active from early spring, breed in the summer, and persist into the autumn.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
This species forages at night when prey includes slugs and snails, woodlice, millipedes and centipedes.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Widespread and fairly frequent in most of Britain, but much less common in western areas and rare in Wales.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Carabus nemoralis. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of European Ground Beetle (4)
Frequently Asked Questions About European Ground Beetle
How big is European Ground Beetle?
22mm to 25mm (0.86" to 0.98")
Where is European Ground Beetle found?
Habitat: Lives under stones, loose bark and among litter.
When is European Ground Beetle active?
European Ground Beetle: seasonal activity - Adults are active from early spring, breed in the summer, and persist into the autumn..
What is the life cycle of a European Ground Beetle?
This species forages at night when prey includes slugs and snails, woodlice, millipedes and centipedes.